Fallout Show Creator Details The “Ground Rules” Set By Video Game Director For Prime Video Adaptation

Though only onboard as an executive producer, Jonathan Nolan reveals Todd Howard’s rules for the Fallout show adaptation. Howard is well-known for being the director of the third and fourth installments in Bethesda’s post-apocalyptic gaming franchise, which serves as the basis for Nolan and Lisa Joy’s upcoming Prime Video show. Led by Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins, Fallout will revolve around a Vault Dweller venturing out into the nuclear wasteland of Los Angeles and discovers the depths humanity has sunk to following a world-destroying war.

As part of the show’s CCXP 2023 panel, Collider spoke with Nolan to discuss the creative process behind the Fallout show. When asked about Howard’s involvement in the show and the possibility of international settings, the creator/executive producer revealed that the video game director had some “ground rules” for how Nolan, Joy and their creative team approached the material, including keeping the story set firmly in America, given the country’s thematic resonance to the games’ story. Check out what Nolan explained below:

An early conversation with Todd was kind of about the ground rules as we began talking with Geneva and Graham about the kind of story we wanted to tell, and one of the ground rules was that the franchise views the apocalypse through the lens of America. That kind of speaks to the way that America sees itself, right? Nothing happens outside of America, right? Part of what the story is dealing with is that slightly rancid American exceptionalism that laces itself through the narrative. That’s why the story kind of has to be in America, because it is America interrogating itself about, “Does it deserve to survive the end of the world, and what does it become after that?”

We’ve had great fun telling stories all around the world, but I think there is something distinctly American about the franchise and the questions it asks. So, that was sort of a relief when you’re going to adapt. You want some freedom, but you also want some constraints. I had an early conversation with Todd about, “Pick a city in America.” I hope to see, at some point, the franchise in gaming terms kind of grow beyond that because I think there’s so many fun questions to ask about exactly how these things would play out, but I understood and respected the thematic reasons why we were given a bit of a mandate to stay in the United States.

Howard’s Fallout Involvement Can Repeat A Recent TV Hit (Not Just Last Of Us)

In addition to coming during a time of success for video game adaptations, many eyes are on whether the Fallout show will be able to recapture the success of HBO’s The Last of Us from early 2023. The two projects share a similar post-apocalypse setting and have seen their respective studios put a lot of resources behind them to effectively bring their respective materials to life. Unlike The Last of Us, however, Fallout has none of the writers from the games involved in adapting Bethesda’s world, where the HBO show had its source material’s creator, Neil Druckmann, on as both a co-creator/co-showrunner and a director.

While he may not be directly writing any episodes, Howard’s involvement in the show does echo that of Eiichiro Oda’s attachment to Netflix’s live-action One Piece show. The manga creator similarly did not write any episodes for the adaptation, but did oversee all creative decisions made by showrunners Matt Owens and Steven Maeda, including any changes made to his source material. Though the duo did find themselves having to convince Oda about some of their desired tweaks, his promoted involvement ultimately benefited the show as it became a critical hit for Netflix and quickly secured a season 2 renewal.

Even if Howard’s involvement with Fallout only extends to the setting of the show, the fact he laid down any kind of ground rules is promising for its chances at staying true to the games. Given the Bethesda titles are player-driven stories, the show is already open to crafting its own unique plot, which has been confirmed to be the case while still taking place within the world of the games. With Nolan and Joy having already enjoyed success with HBO’s Westworld and early reception to the Fallout show trailer proving largely positive, it does seem like their vision paired with Howard’s guidance could make for another worthwhile video game adaptation.

Fallout is set to premiere on Prime Video on April 12, 2024.

Source: Collider