Actor Samba Schutte has been promoted to a series regular for the second season of Apple TV’s acclaimed drama series “Pluribus,” according to Variety reporting published on November 13, 2026. Variety reported that Schutte, who previously appeared as a guest star in two episodes of the show’s first season, will return with an expanded presence as production on the sophomore run continues. Apple TV has not yet announced a premiere date for the upcoming episodes.
Schutte portrayed Mr. Diabaté, a Mauritanian character who stands out in the narrative as one of the few humans immune to the extraterrestrial hive mind altering Earth’s population. Unlike the show’s protagonist, Carol Sturka—played by Rhea Seehorn—who fights desperately against the alien influence, Mr. Diabaté embraces the new reality, adopting a hedonistic lifestyle from a penthouse suite at The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. His performance in the freshman run earned him a Saturn Award nomination for Best Guest Star in a Television Series.
First-Season Acclaim and Production Background
The promotion follows a highly successful debut season for “Pluribus,” which launched on Apple TV in November 2025. Created, written, directed, and executive produced by Vince Gilligan, the series garnered widespread critical and audience acclaim, pulling in 18 total Emmy Award nominations. The production secured six Emmy wins, including Rhea Seehorn taking home the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and Vince Gilligan winning for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series.
Additional Emmy honors for the first season included awards for Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program, Outstanding Picture Editing, Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music, and Outstanding Sound Mixing. Beyond the Television Academy recognitions, the series earned a Peabody Award and the Breakthrough Drama Series honor at the 2026 Gotham Television Awards. The drama is produced for Apple TV by Sony Pictures Television.
Expanding Cast Dynamics and Creator Credits
With Schutte stepping into a permanent role, the expanded narrative will further develop the contrast between Carol Sturka’s resistance efforts and the lifestyle of characters unaffected by the hive mind. Alongside Seehorn and Schutte, the returning cast features Karolina Wydra and Carlos-Manuel Vesga. Executive producers for the second season include Vince Gilligan, Gordon Smith, Alison Tatlock, Diane Mercer, Jeff Frost, Jenn Carroll, and Trina Siopy.
Schutte brings a diverse background to the role, having previously starred in HBO’s pirate comedy “Our Flag Means Death” and the NBC sitcom “Sunnyside.” He also won the Jury and Audience Awards at the Leids Cabaret Festival in the Netherlands, worked as a writer and correspondent for the Dutch version of “The Daily Show,” and contributed writing and performance work to video games such as “Battlefield V” and “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.” He is represented by Innovative Artists and Established Artists.