The Fallout TV show isn’t a direct adaptation because the creators want to make something new and "build on 25 years of creativity and thinking"
Mar. 7, 2024The Fallout TV showrunners explain why they’re not adapting the games
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Fallout is heading back out into the wastes for its Prime Video TV show, but it’s not interested in treading the same well-worn path of the post-apocalyptic game series.
At a recentFallout TV showtrailer launch attended by GamesRadar+ and other media, co-creators Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner explained that though the series is “set in the world” of Fallout, it’s not based on Interplay or Black Isle’s original two games, nor Bethesda’s series.
“It’s a new story that comes, sort of, after the events we’ve seen,” Wagner says. “The show is built on like 25 years of creativity and thinking and building.”
Wagner added, “And we sort of thought the best thing to do is to continue that, versus retread it. Because that’s sort of what has worked with Fallout over the years. It’s traded hands, it’s changed, it’s been altered, and it’s a living thing. And yeah, we kind of felt like we ought to take a swing at trying to build a new piece on top of all of that.”
That echoes executive producer Jonathan Nolan’s commentsin the new issue of Total Filmon where Fallout’s TV show sits in the franchise’s universe.
Nolan said, “From the first conversation with Todd [Howard, game director of Fallout 3 & 4, and an executive producer on the show] we were most excited about an original story.”
He continued, “Each of the [Fallout] games is a discrete story – different city, distinct protagonist – within the same mythology. Our series sits in relation to the games as the games sit in relation to each other. It’s almost like we’re Fallout 5.”
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Fallout stars Ella Purnell as Vault Dweller Lucy, Aaron Moten as Maximus, Walton Goggins as The Ghoul, and Kyle MacLachan as Lucy’s father, Hank. It’s now set to stream on Prime Video one day earlier than originally planned, on April 11.
I’m the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you’ll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.
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