Vince Gilligan Calls for More Heroes in Media

Vince Gilligan, creator of iconic TV antiheroes like Breaking Bad's Walter White, was honored with the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award at the Writers Guild Awards. During his acceptance speech, Gilligan highlighted the cultural impact of 'sexy' villains, citing figures like Darth Vader and Tony Soprano, who he argues have transformed from cautionary tales to aspirational figures. He called on his peers in Hollywood to focus on creating more 'good guys' in storytelling, particularly in a time he describes as dominated by real-life villains. Gilligan believes more inspirational characters, akin to the likes of George Bailey from It's a Wonderful Life, could positively influence society. His forthcoming project is an Apple TV+ sci-fi series featuring a 'damaged hero,' marking a conscious shift towards writing heroes rather than antiheroes.