Fallout’s Makeup Team Sneakily Broke Jonathan Nolan’s Biggest Rule For Adapting The Game, And Fans Discovered It Before The Writers Did

Fallout's Makeup Team Sneakily Broke Jonathan Nolan's Biggest Rule For Adapting The Game, And Fans Discovered It Before The Writers Did

As a long-time gamer and a dedicated subscriber of Amazon Prime Video, I can confidently say that Fallout has undoubtedly made its mark as one of the most captivating series to grace our screens. The post-apocalyptic drama masterfully weaves together an engaging narrative, bolstered by a cast of compelling characters that seamlessly bring the beloved video game franchise to life.


The post-apocalyptic series “Fallout” swiftly turned into a massive success on Amazon Prime Video, a renowned streaming platform, due to its engrossing narrative brimming with captivating characters, and an adaptation that was faithful to the popular video game franchise it originated from, under the watchful eye of executive producer Jonathan Nolan. However, one fundamental rule set by Nolan when adapting the game was violated, albeit unintentionally, by the makeup and costume departments. Remarkably, it was the viewers who spotted this infraction before Nolan and the writing team did.

What Rule Did Jonathan Nolan Institute During The Making Of Fallout?

According to insights shared by Jonathan Nolan regarding the TV series Fallout after its premiere on the 2024 schedule, he had a clear vision for the show. A crucial aspect of this plan involved staying faithful to the original source material, but without being overly constrained by it. Michael Harvey, head of the makeup department, elaborated on this during an interview with our sister site, PC Gamer. Harvey, who was nominated for an Emmy in 2024, mentioned that Nolan requested the team to embrace the world as it is and draw from its unique elements when crafting the show’s aesthetics. Furthermore, Harvey stated that the makeup department should adhere to this approach.

Jonah (Jonathan Nolan) clearly instructed me to employ the game as a guiding principle, but not to directly replicate any aspects of it.

In my opinion, those games can be a useful guideline for the development of future series. While they should undeniably influence the storyline, creators should avoid simply rehashing and duplicating the existing material. Instead, they should aim to enrich the lore of their game franchises by adding new elements and expanding upon the existing mythos in upcoming video game adaptations.

Jonathan Nolan and the team have indeed crafted a unique tale with “Fallout”, complete with distinctive characters and fresh storylines. It’s no surprise that it has garnered as much success as “The Last of Us” does, given that both share a strong resemblance to their original sources.

Even with all my previous statements, I must admit, I’m thrilled that the costume and makeup teams somehow managed to bypass Nolan’s rule, a detail I believe many viewers, including myself, might have missed.

What Was The Easter Egg That The Crew Managed To Sneak In?

In the fifth episode of the first season of Fallout, an incident occurs that breaches the rules. During this episode, Lucy MacLean and Maximus journey through the perilous wasteland that used to be the United States. At one point, they cross a bridge where they encounter two raiders. While Lucy tries to reason with them peacefully, a fight breaks out instead. The raiders are killed and Maximus is injured. Now, you might wonder how this ties into the Easter egg? One of the raiders was dressed identically to a character from one of the games.

Michael Harvey continued by stating that costume designer Amy Wescot had dressed the actor in a way that made him appear as if he had just stepped off the set of a game. Subsequently, the makeup artist elaborated on how he utilized this chance to further enhance the character’s look.

As a devoted fan, I found an opportunity to incorporate that character and its image into one of the game’s personalities. I pondered, “What if?” And, indeed, it seemed like a rather unassuming figure. I was certain that no one would ever recognize it.

Fallout's Makeup Team Sneakily Broke Jonathan Nolan's Biggest Rule For Adapting The Game, And Fans Discovered It Before The Writers Did

In a fascinating twist, a character on the show shares similarities with Cricket, an arms dealer from the video game Fallout 4 who often visited specific areas within the game. Remarkably, the creators, including Jonathan Nolan, didn’t realize this connection. Fans of Prime Video, especially those who are keen enthusiasts, couldn’t help but share their excitement about this unexpected resemblance online.

Nolan didn’t spot it, neither did the writers. However, Reddit quickly did, and they went into a frenzy about it. They became overly excited about it, saying things like, ‘We can identify that character! We know which game, what map, and who that person was.’ … That was just one small Easter egg I hoped wouldn’t be discovered right away. But boy, did they catch on to it quickly! So, hats off to the passion and dedication of these fans.

It’s impressive how sharp-eyed fans manage to notice connections so swiftly. One can’t help but ponder if such an overt reference could arise during the production of Fallout Season 2. My gut feeling is that Jonathan Nolan might not be fond of this concept, considering his rule. However, it’s also possible (or maybe they already have) that the team has devised a clever way to include another homage to the games, which I’m sure die-hard fans would appreciate.

The first season of Fallout is available to stream alongside the best shows on Prime Video.

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2024-08-15 15:37