‘Pluribus’ Season 2 Begins Filming, and Vince Gilligan Is Planning a Marathon Shoot

Vince Gilligan’s ‘Pluribus’ became one of the biggest television stories of the past year. The former ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’ showrunner’s sci-fi series premiered on Apple TV in November 2025 and quickly turned into a critical favorite.

The show also dominated awards season. At the Emmys in September, ‘Pluribus’ won 6 awards, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Rhea Seehorn, her first Primetime Emmy win, and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for Gilligan’s premiere episode, “We Is Us.”

Now the wait for new episodes is officially moving forward. ‘Pluribus’ Season 2 has started filming in New Mexico, with production mapped out for an intensive 225-day shoot. Dark Horizons, citing a Production List report, said filming began on October 31 in Albuquerque. That lines up with Gilligan’s earlier comments in September that production would start in late October or early November.

Apple ordered 2 seasons of the show from the start, but it took time for the second season to get underway. Production is finally beginning almost a year after the first season debuted. A 225-day shoot is close to two-thirds of a year before post-production even begins. Forbes’ Paul Tassi estimated that filming could wrap around mid-June 2027.

Based on the roughly 14 months of post-production the first season needed, Tassi projected a possible release around August 2028. That would mean a wait of nearly 3 years between seasons, though Apple TV hasn’t announced a release window.

‘PLURIBUS’ Season 2 has started filming. Production is mapped out for an intensive 225-day shoot. https://t.co/rx47jg3JnS

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) November 2, 2026

Reports also suggest Season 2 could have one more episode than Season 1. If true, that may help explain the lengthy production schedule. Gilligan has been open about the slow pace. Earlier this year, while the writers were still breaking the season, he admitted that it wasn’t moving as fast as he had hoped.

He even joked that fans would be seeing Season 2 in 8 or 9 years. While that was clearly an exaggeration, the long filming schedule shows the team is taking its time. Gilligan has also said that he will keep making the show as long as Seehorn wants to continue. He hasn’t outlined how many seasons the story might run.

We hope you enjoy the trailer, Carol. #Pluribus premieres November 7 on Apple TV. https://t.co/XG3LbdZoDh

— Apple TV (@AppleTV) October 22, 2025

New Mexico has long been home to Gilligan’s work, with both ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’ filmed in the state. ‘Pluribus’ continues that tradition, with Season 1 shot at locations including a temporary cul-de-sac on the West Mesa, Coronado Center and Vernon’s Speakeasy.

Cast member Karolina Wydra, who earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress, has called the state “magical.” Fans can expect the show’s distinct desert setting to remain a key part of its look.

The production schedule is very different from Gilligan’s earlier series. ‘Breaking Bad’ produced 62 episodes over about 5 years, while ‘Better Call Saul’ delivered 63 episodes in just under 7 and a half years.

Tassi noted that ‘Pluribus’ won’t come close to that pace, pointing to more intensive filming and tougher production conditions in today’s TV industry. Some worry the long gap could affect viewership, though the show’s acclaim should help keep fans engaged.

For now, fans can take comfort in knowing that new episodes are finally being made. With an award-winning star and creator returning, expectations for Season 2 are high. The question is how long audiences will be willing to wait. If Season 1 is any indication, the payoff could be worth it.

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