Samba Schutte Upgraded to Series Regular for 'Pluribus' Season 2

Samba Schutte has been promoted to series regular status for Season 2 of "Pluribus," Variety has learned. The promotion arrives as the Apple TV drama is in production on its second season, following a first-year run that collected 18 Emmy nominations and six wins.

Schutte played Mr. Diabaté in Season 1 as a guest star. The character, like Rhea Seehorn's Carol, is immune to the outbreak at the center of the series and lives a hedonistic lifestyle. His elevation to the regular cast deepens the show's roster of immune survivors, a core dramatic engine of creator Vince Gilligan's premise.

Who is Samba Schutte?

Schutte comes to the role with a comedy-heavy resume. He starred in the HBO Max pirate comedy "Our Flag Means Death" and the NBC sitcom "Sunnyside." Before that, he worked as a writer and correspondent on "De Nieuwste Show," the Dutch version of "The Daily Show." He is repped by Innovative Artists and Established Artists.

Along with Seehorn and Schutte, the "Pluribus" cast includes Karolina Wydra and Carlos-Manuel Vesga.

What did Season 1 achieve?

The first season debuted on Apple TV in November 2025 and was well-received by critics and audiences upon launch. It became one of the most nominated series at this year's Emmy Awards, raking in 18 total nominations for its first season.

It converted six of those into wins:

• Seehorn's win for outstanding lead actress in a drama series
• Gilligan's win for outstanding writing for a drama series
• Outstanding picture editing for a drama series
• Outstanding sound mixing for a comedy or drama (one hour)
• Outstanding original main title theme music
• Outstanding production design for a narrative contemporary program (one hour or more)

The writing trophy marks Gilligan's continued primetime dominance. The "Breaking Bad" creator built "Pluribus" as his follow-up, and the Emmy tally confirms the series landed with both voters and viewers in its first year.

What does this change for Season 2?

The upgrade moves Mr. Diabaté from recurring guest to a character with sustained screen time. For Schutte, it converts a single-season guest arc into the biggest dramatic role of his career, shifting him from ensemble comedy into award-winning prestige drama. For the series, it signals that the immune-survivor thread — the hedonist figures who can move freely through the outbreak — will carry more weight in the new season's storytelling.

Who makes the show?

"Pluribus" is produced for Apple TV by Sony Pictures Television. Gilligan executive produces alongside Gordon Smith, Alison Tatlock, Diane Mercer, Jeff Frost, Jenn Carroll and Trina Siopy.

Season 2 is currently in production. Apple TV has not yet announced a premiere date, but the Emmy momentum and an expanded regular cast suggest the network sees the series as a flagship title for the year ahead.