With the Fallout TV series debuting on Amazon Prime Video next month, the marriage of the rich lore of the Fallout gaming franchise and the new televised narrative will be a hot topic for the next several months. But since it’s a slice of a larger universe, Bethesda Game Studios’ Todd Howard made sure the adaptation didn’t step on any toes. He had to ensure that the TV series and the next mainline video game entry maintained distinct narratives.
Howard, well aware of the demand for Fallout 5, stepped in to make sure that the TV show’s production didn’t overlap with his content plans for the game.
In conversations with Den of Geek, Howard, alongside Fallout TV series co-showrunner Graham Wagner and executive producer Jonathan Nolan, revealed the careful planning that took place to safeguard the future of the Fallout franchise. Howard was clear about certain boundaries, stating, “Well, there were some things where I said, ‘Don’t do this because we are going to do that in Fallout 5.'” This directive was to ensure that the TV series, while set within the Fallout universe and canon to the game’s events, wouldn’t encroach on the narrative territory reserved for Fallout 5.
Set after the events of the video games and in the year 2296, the Fallout TV series aims to carve its a unique narrative space within the expansive Fallout universe. This careful approach respects the series’ rich history but also provides creative freedom to explore new storylines and characters, such as Ella Purnell’s Lucy, without being constrained by the existing video game plotlines. The series aims to weave an original story that, while being deeply rooted in the Fallout universe’s lore, offers a fresh perspective and experience for both long-time fans and newcomers alike.
The decision to pursue an original narrative for the TV series aligns with Howard’s vision for the franchise’s expansion across different media.
By ensuring the TV series doesn’t preemptively reveal or replicate key elements planned for Fallout 5, Howard and the series’ creative team maintained the distinctiveness and a high level of anticipation for both projects. The collaborative effort to delineate the TV series’ content from the upcoming video game demonstrates a strategic approach to expanding the Fallout universe while preserving the unique appeal of each medium.
Furthermore, the Fallout TV series, with its original story and setting in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, also reflects the franchise’s tradition of handing the narrative baton to a new creative team over the years. This tradition has helped keep the Fallout universe vibrant and relevant, evolving with each new installment.
Unfortunately, whileFallout 5 is part of Bethesda’s pipeline, it isn’t coming out anytime soon. Howard is busy with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and he’s still off to work on The Elder Scrolls 6 next. It’s only after he’s done working on both that he’ll continue with Fallout 5, which may very well be his last game before he retires.
