‘Breaking Bad’ stars unite in new Apple TV ‘Pluribus’ promo – Drew Barrymore and Carol Burnett, too

Still from Apple TV’s new “Pluribus” promo
In a move that’s got “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” devotees buzzing, Apple TV has dropped an inventive 100-second teaser ad for Vince Gilligan’s latest dystopian gem, “Pluribus.” The promo doesn’t just hype the new series—it’s a full-on reunion extravaganza, featuring Bryan Cranston, Bob Odenkirk, Aaron Paul, and a slew of familiar faces from the meth-fueled, lawyerly universes they’ve called home. And at the center of this affectionate chaos? Rhea Seehorn, stepping out of her Better Call Saul heels and into the role of a lifetime as the world’s grumpiest savior.
For the uninitiated, Pluribus — which premiered on November 7th with its first two episodes and snagged a speedy Season 2 renewal — trades Albuquerque’s blue skies for a nightmare of enforced cheer. Seehorn plays Carol Sturka, a woman dubbed “the most miserable person on Earth,” who’s thrust into a global catastrophe that turns nearly everyone into a saccharine hive mind. Overnight, humanity swaps sharp elbows for group hugs, and the survivors who resist the bliss are hunted down. Carol’s mission? Protect her precious misery and, somehow, save the world from happiness. It’s classic Gilligan — dark, witty, and laced with that signature moral ambiguity — but with a fresh coat of existential absurdity.
The ad cleverly recreates a pivotal scene from Pluribus‘s debut episode, where Carol flips on her TV amid the unfolding apocalypse, only to be bombarded by a parade of “friendly” faces urging her to join the party. Enter the Breaking Bad brigade: It kicks off with Cranston’s Walter White staring down the barrel of the camera, his chyron flashing “JOIN US” like a command from the principal’s office. From there, it’s a montage of hundreds of beaming visages, but the real stars steal the show in their quick-hit cameos.
Odenkirk reprises his slick Saul Goodman (or is it Jimmy McGill?), teaming up with Patrick Fabian’s ever-smarmy Howard Hamlin to coo, “We just want to make you happy.” Giancarlo Esposito’s ice-cold Gus Fring softens just enough to murmur, “We’re sorry we upset you,” while Jonathan Banks’ Mike Ehrmantraut offers a stoic nod from the shadows. Aaron Paul pops up as Jesse Pinkman, looking equal parts bewildered and earnest against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower — because why not globe-trot in the end times? Even Carol Burnett, who lit up Better Call Saul‘s final season, chimes in with a grandmotherly, “Carol, if you need us, we’re here for you.” And for that extra meta twist, Drew Barrymore crashes the feed straight from her talk show set, gazing soulfully at the lens: “We love you, Carol, and we just want to be happy.”

It’s peak fan service: a “sort of” crossover that nods to the interconnected web of Gilligan’s empire without muddying Pluribus‘ standalone waters. After all, while Better Call Saul blurred lines with surprise returns from Cranston and Paul in its swan-song season, this new series charts entirely new territory. No Heisenberg empire here — just a hive-mind horror show that skewers our obsession with positivity in the social media age. Gilligan, ever the provocateur, has teased in interviews that he envisions Pluribus running well beyond its confirmed second season, promising more twists on the theme of individuality in a world gone collectively nuts.
Seehorn, fresh off her Emmy-nominated run as the steely Kim Wexler, seems tailor-made for Carol’s prickly heroism. In the ad, her deadpan reactions to the onslaught of well-wishers are comedy gold — eyes rolling harder than a Saul courtroom plea. It’s a testament to her range, bridging the moral tightrope of Better Call Saul with this new breed of reluctant anti-hero. Seeing her Saul co-stars rally around her feels like a heartfelt pat on the back from the family she helped build.
Apple TV+ knows how to play the nostalgia card, and this promo is a masterstroke — playful enough to hook casual viewers, insider-y enough to reward die-hards. As Breaking Bad celebrates its 17th anniversary and Better Call Saul wraps its legacy, Pluribus arrives like a breath of fresh (if slightly rancid) air. It’s a reminder that Gilligan’s touch—equal parts tension, humor, and humanism—remains as potent as ever.
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