Fallout Showrunners Explain Changes from the Video Games

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Fallout Showrunners Explain Changes from the Video Games

Summary

  • Top-rated Prime Video Fallout adaptation features a new storyline and fan-favorite lore from the games.
  • Showrunners faced backlash for altering game canon, but the series was still well-received.
  • The open world nature of Fallout games allowed for creative liberty in shaping new storylines and characters for TV.

As a dedicated fan of both video games and television adaptations, I must say that Prime Video’s Fallout has left me absolutely spellbound. The show, masterfully crafted by Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner, has proven itself to be a testament to the art of adaptation, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with HBO’s The Last of Us.

Amazon Prime Video’s series titled “Fallout“, masterminded by writers Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner, has been widely acclaimed as one of the best video game adaptations ever (alongside HBO’s The Last of Us)). Yet, during its production phase, these creators encountered a surge of criticism due to the alterations they planned for the popular video game series.

The Amazon Prime series, “Fallout,” crafts a fresh narrative within the universe established by Interplay Entertainment (now under Bethesda Softworks) and blends elements from their widely acclaimed game series.

In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter after receiving 16 Emmy nominations, Robertson-Dworet and Wagner talked about creating the series, addressing the initial backlash they encountered from game enthusiasts. Similar to any good adaptation, ‘Fallout’ modifies and enhances the original storyline of the show’s world. However, these alterations were met with severe criticism by long-time followers of the games.

According to Graham Wagner, it’s essential to modify even the most cherished literary works when adapting them for a new format, and this rule applies to “Fallout” as well. In his own words:

“Jane Austen’s works are no longer inviolable. Previously, deviating from an adaptation might have labeled you as unsophisticated, but times have changed. For Fallout, we intentionally deviated from the game’s established history, which sparked a heated debate on Reddit and required moderation. The backlash was intense, making it a bit exciting to experiment with this new ‘sacred cow’.”

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Fallout’s Showrunners Compare Their Adaptation to The Last of Us

Fallout Showrunners Explain Changes from the Video GamesFallout Showrunners Explain Changes from the Video GamesFallout Showrunners Explain Changes from the Video GamesFallout Showrunners Explain Changes from the Video Games

Upon the recent debut of “Fallout” on Amazon Prime Video, enthusiasts were thrilled about this latest take on the franchise. Featuring Ella Purnell, Walton Goggins, and Aaron Moten in leading roles, the series respectfully paid homage to the source material by embedding numerous references (Easter eggs) to the games while crafting a unique narrative.

The performance of the show garnered exceptional praise from both spectators and experts, who are eagerly anticipating another season. Naturally, a top-notch show often draws comparisons, and this one was swiftly likened to HBO’s “The Last of Us” series.

During our chat, Geneva Robertson-Dworet highlighted the main distinction between the two productions. While The Last of Us video game by Naughty Dog unfolds in a sequential manner, similar to a TV series, with each stage representing an individual episode, Fallout games present players with vast open worlds where they have the freedom to decide their destinations and shape the narrative’s progression.

Due to a lack of a precise storyline available, Wagner and Robertson-Dworet found themselves in a situation where this gap was both advantageous and challenging, as stated by Geneva Robertson-Dworet.

“Since the game is an open-world style, the storyline can take multiple directions due to its flexible nature. Unlike The Last of Us, which followed a more linear, direct adaptation of the video game plot, our game offers a unique advantage: every player experiences it differently based on their choices. This creative freedom allowed us to develop our own story and characters within this universe. When embarking on this project, we pondered, ‘Which characters would we like to introduce in this world and mythology?'”

Fallout
is streaming on Prime Video.

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2024-08-24 17:02