Fallout TV Show: The Biggest Burning Questions Answered (ft. Todd Howard & Jonathan Nolan)

Summary

The transcript is a detailed discussion with Todd Howard and Jonathan Nolan, key figures behind the 'Fallout' TV series now streaming on Prime Video. They delve into the show's creation, touching on the importance of staying true to the game's lore while introducing new elements. The conversation covers the show's reception, fan theories, and the creators' approach to the Fallout universe. They also discuss the main characters, the challenges of adapting such a vast game into a TV series, and the potential for future seasons. The interview is filled with insights into the creative process, the balance between respecting the source material and innovation, and the excitement of bringing the post-apocalyptic world of Fallout to life on screen.

Takeaways

• 📺 **Fallout Series on Prime Video**: The first season of the Fallout series is now available for streaming on Prime Video.
• 🤝 **Collaboration with Bethesda**: Todd Howard from Bethesda is an executive producer on the show, collaborating closely with the team to maintain the Fallout universe's integrity.
• 🎮 **Jonah's Gaming Experience**: Jonathan Nolan, a big Fallout 3 fan, started playing the game shortly after its release in 2008 and has spent countless hours on it.
• 🚫 **Avoiding Over-Engagement with Fan Theories**: The creators acknowledge the fan theories but are cautious not to let them influence the show's direction too much.
• 📽️ **Respect for the Source Material**: The show aims to be loyal to the Fallout games' lore and art design, with careful consideration given to the game's timeline and events.
• 💡 **Creative Pitch**: What convinced Todd Howard to move forward with the adaptation was Jonah Nolan's pitch that respected the game's world and proposed a new story that fit within the existing narrative.
• 🎭 **Character Development**: The main characters of Lucy, Maximus, and Cooper (Ghoul) embody different moral alignments, with Lucy as good, Maximus as neutral, and Ghoul as evil, adding depth to their interactions.
• ⏳ **Flashbacks and Time Span**: The show explores the time before the war and the impact of those events on the characters, with a focus on storytelling through these flashbacks.
• 🔍 **Lore and Satire**: The series continues the satirical elements from the games, particularly aiming it towards Vault-Tec and the corporate sponsorship aspect of the Fallout universe.
• 🎬 **Artistic License**: While respecting the lore, the show takes creative liberties where necessary to tell a compelling story, such as the destruction of Shady Sands.
• 📆 **Timeline and Future Events**: The show's creators are careful to align the series with the game's timeline, ensuring that it doesn't conflict with the events of Fallout: New Vegas and other games.

Q & A

What is the general reception of the Fallout series on Prime Video?

The show has been well-received, with fans enjoying it and discussing it earnestly. The creators have been following the reactions and fan theories, which has been gratifying for them.

How did Jonah Nolan become involved in the Fallout series adaptation?

Todd Howard, an executive producer from Bethesda, had been approached for years about a Fallout adaptation but said no until Jonah Nolan came along with a pitch that resonated with Howard's vision for a new story within the Fallout universe.

What was the initial focus during the development of the Fallout series?

The initial focus was on the tone of the show. The creators wanted to ensure that the show would stand up as another entry in the series, rather than retelling one of the games, and that it would be loyal to the world of the games.

How did Todd Howard contribute to the show's development?

Todd Howard was involved from the beginning to guide the show, ensuring that the tone and other aspects of the fiction were in line with the Fallout universe. He also helped to correct any inaccuracies and provided insights from his deep knowledge of the lore.

What was the approach to handling the lore and art design in the show?

The creators aimed to be extremely loyal to the lore and art design of the games. They wanted to respect the storytelling that had come before while also adding to it, ensuring that the show fit within the consistent universe established by the games.

How did the creators approach the character development in the show?

The creators focused on the characters' growth and change while maintaining essential aspects of their personalities. They aimed to explore how the characters would react to the challenges of the Wasteland and what parts of their character they would hold onto.

What was the significance of the line 'War. War never changes.' in the show?

The line is a well-known ethos from the Fallout games. Its inclusion in the show was carefully considered, and it was used to plant a flag indicating that the story has just begun, mirroring its use in the game series.

How did the creators decide on the portrayal of the Brotherhood of Steel through the character of Maximus?

Maximus represents a player's potential experience in the games, where moral compromises might be made for the sake of powerful gear and weapons. His portrayal was designed to reflect the ambiguity and neutrality that a player might feel when interacting with the Brotherhood of Steel.

What was the inspiration behind the character of Cooper, played by Walton Goggins?

Cooper was inspired by the idea of a figure involved in a Red Scare, McCarthy-like moment set in a Bizarro alternate future of Hollywood. The creators also liked the meta-satirical aspect of having a character that could comment on corporate sponsorship and the ethics of actors and writers.

How did the creators approach the intertwining of the show's timeline with the game's lore?

The creators were very careful about the timeline to ensure that the events of the show landed correctly within the established universe of the games. They made sure that the show's events moved the world of Fallout forward without contradicting the established lore.

What is the current plan for future Fallout games following the success of the TV show?

While the focus is currently on Elder Scrolls VI, plans for Fallout 5 are ongoing. The success of the show has not changed the development order, but it has likely influenced the enthusiasm and direction of future projects within the Fallout universe.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Fallout Series Premiere and Creator Insights

The first paragraph introduces the discussion with Todd Howard and Jonathan Nolan, key figures behind the Fallout series now streaming on Prime Video. They share their excitement about the series, their awareness of fan reactions, and the importance of maintaining the show's unique tone amidst fan theories and feedback. The conversation delves into Nolan's history with the Fallout games, his initial engagement with the series, and how Howard's initial reluctance to adapt Fallout into a series was overcome by Nolan's compelling pitch. The summary touches on the creative process, the balance between humor and darkness in the series, and the meticulous attention to the Fallout universe's lore.

05:00

📜 Loyalty to the Fallout Lore and Creative Challenges

The second paragraph focuses on the creators' approach to the Fallout series' narrative, particularly the use of flashbacks to depict the world before the war. It highlights the collaborative effort between the show's team and Bethesda to ensure consistency with the game's lore. The discussion explores the challenges of adapting an open-world game with multiple narrative possibilities into a linear series, the decision-making process regarding the show's storyline, and the careful consideration of the Fallout timeline and continuity with previous games.

10:01

🧐 Character Development and the Dynamics of the Brotherhood of Steel

The third paragraph discusses the development and portrayal of the main characters in the series, with a focus on Lucy's unwavering optimism, Maximus's moral ambiguity, and the evolution of the ghoul character. It explores the characters' relationships, their backgrounds, and the choices they make within the Wasteland. The summary also examines the representation of the Brotherhood of Steel through Maximus's character and the implications of corporate sponsorship in the Fallout universe.

15:02

🎭 Exploring the Depths of Ghoul's Character and Satirical Elements

The fourth paragraph delves into the character of ghoul, played by Walton Goggins, and the creative decisions behind his portrayal. It discusses the balance between the character's past decency and his present ruthlessness, the satirical elements targeting corporate sponsorship and the entertainment industry, and the use of iconic Fallout phrases like 'War. War never changes.' The conversation also addresses the cliffhanger ending involving the character Barb and hints at the potential continuation of certain storylines in future seasons.

20:02

🚀 Future Plans for the Fallout Series and Bethesda Games

The fifth and final paragraph touches on the future of the Fallout series, with discussions about the possibility of additional seasons and the show's connection to the larger Fallout universe. It also briefly mentions other projects from Bethesda, including Elder Scrolls VI and Starfield, and the ongoing development and community engagement for Fallout 76. The summary concludes with the creators' excitement about the show's reception and their hopes for future storytelling opportunities within the Fallout universe.

Keywords

💡Fallout Season 1

Fallout Season 1 refers to the first season of a television series adaptation based on the popular video game franchise 'Fallout'. In the script, it is mentioned that the show is now available on Prime Video, indicating its release and accessibility to viewers. The series is a central theme of the discussion, with the interview focusing on the show's creation, reception, and its connection to the game universe.

💡Todd Howard

Todd Howard is an executive producer on the Fallout television series and is also a key figure at Bethesda Softworks, the company behind the Fallout video game franchise. His involvement in the show is significant as he brings authenticity and deep understanding of the Fallout universe to the adaptation, ensuring the series remains true to its roots. In the script, Todd discusses his collaboration with Jonah and the creative process behind the show.

💡Jonathan Nolan

Jonathan Nolan is an executive producer and director for the first three episodes of the Fallout series. He is known for his work in films and television, including 'Westworld'. His role in the show is pivotal as he helps shape the narrative and visual style. The script highlights his passion for the Fallout series and his contribution to the adaptation process.

💡Prime Video

Prime Video is a subscription-based video streaming service offered by Amazon. In the context of the script, it is the platform where the Fallout series is available for streaming. This keyword is essential as it informs viewers where they can access and watch the series, contributing to the show's distribution and viewership.

💡Fallout Lore

Fallout Lore refers to the extensive narrative, history, and world-building elements that make up the Fallout universe. The script discusses the importance of staying true to this lore in the television adaptation, ensuring that the show resonates with fans of the game series. The preservation of the lore is a significant aspect of the adaptation process, as it maintains the integrity of the source material.

💡Shady Sands

Shady Sands is a location within the Fallout universe, specifically mentioned in the context of the show's timeline and narrative. It is a community that has appeared in previous games, and its 'fall' or destruction is a significant event in the series. The script discusses how the show carefully navigates the timeline of events involving Shady Sands to align with the game's continuity.

💡Vault Boy

Vault Boy is an iconic mascot character from the Fallout game series, often used in loading screens and promotional materials. In the script, the character of Cooper is suggested to be inspired by Vault Boy, indicating a deep connection between the show and the games. This keyword highlights the use of recognizable symbols from the game to enrich the television adaptation.

💡Lore Master

The term 'Lore Master' is used to describe someone with extensive knowledge of the narrative details and history of a fictional universe. In the script, Todd Howard is referred to as the 'Lore Master' for the Fallout series, emphasizing his role in ensuring the show's fidelity to the game's established lore. His expertise is crucial for maintaining consistency and accuracy in the adaptation.

💡Post-Apocalyptic

Post-apocalyptic is a genre that depicts a world after a catastrophic event that has caused the near or complete destruction of civilization. The Fallout series is set in a post-apocalyptic universe, and this keyword is central to understanding the setting and themes of both the games and the television adaptation. The script discusses the show's portrayal of the post-apocalyptic world, including its unique blend of humor and darkness.

💡Westworld

Westworld is a television series co-created by Jonathan Nolan, which is mentioned in the script as a point of reference for his previous work. It is significant as it highlights Nolan's experience with complex narratives and large-scale adaptations, which are relevant to his role in the Fallout series. The mention of Westworld serves to draw parallels and expectations for the storytelling approach in the Fallout adaptation.

💡Bethesda

Bethesda Softworks is the video game developer and publisher responsible for the Fallout game series. In the script, Bethesda is mentioned as the company that Todd Howard represents and which has developed the Fallout games. The company's involvement is key to the authenticity and approval of the television adaptation, ensuring that the show meets the expectations of the game's fanbase.

Highlights

Fallout Season 1 is now available on Prime Video, featuring an interview with Todd Howard and Jonathan Nolan, who discuss the show's creation and their experiences.

Todd Howard and Jonathan Nolan share their excitement about fan reactions and theories to the show, acknowledging the gratification of positive feedback.

Nolan discusses the importance of not being overly influenced by fan theories to prevent steering the show's direction.

The creators emphasize the show's commitment to the Fallout universe's lore and art design, aiming to respect and add to the existing narrative.

The show takes creative liberties with the Fallout world, including significant narrative swings, while maintaining loyalty to the game's essence.

The writers' room included passionate Fallout fans, ensuring accuracy and depth in the adaptation, with Todd Howard correcting minor details.

The show features a mix of dark humor and the grim reality of the Fallout universe, capturing the unique tone of the games.

The creators discuss the challenges of adapting an open-world game with multiple endings into a linear TV series.

The show's setting in the Fallout universe is seen as an asset rather than an obstacle, allowing for a rich and interconnected narrative.

The main characters, Lucy, Maximus, and Cooper, are explored in-depth, with their moral alignments and development throughout the season.

The show delves into the backstory of the pre-war world and the events leading up to the war in the Fallout universe.

The creators reveal that the show's timeline is carefully aligned with the game's events, including the fall of Shady Sands in relation to New Vegas.

The decision to intertwine the show's narrative with the game's lore is driven by a desire to create a meaningful connection for fans.

The creators discuss the inclusion of celebrity cameos and the potential for future appearances by well-known voices from the games.

The future of the Fallout game series is hinted at, with ongoing development for Elder Scrolls 6 and plans for Fallout 5.

The interview concludes with a tease for potential storylines and character developments in future seasons of the Fallout TV series.

Transcripts

[Music]

Fallout season 1 is now on Prime video

and in honor of that I am joined by none

other than bethesda's Todd Howard who is

an executive producer on the show and

Jonathan Nolan who is an executive

producer and director of the first three

episodes welcome guys thanks so much for

joining me oh excited to be here and I'm

I'm so glad we get to talk now Post

Release because I feel like people have

been binging it over the weekend and

discussing it in Earnest uh do you guys

keep up with the reactions and views and

fan theories are you kind of purposely

staying out of that a little bit I mean

it's I keep up with it you know it's

hard not to read all that stuff and

everybody's loving the show so when

you're getting uh all this great

feedback it's pretty much you know it's

a lot of fuel all the credits are Jonah

Graham Geneva everyone who worked on the

show it just turned out uh you know

we're so happy Jonah I I'm curious with

you too because I don't know if you like

got burned out on Reddit theories during

Westworld or what have you you want to

get it it's gratifying when people are

enjoying something that that's really

exciting but I think you have to be a

little careful because if you read too

much you know it could even

subconsciously start to steer steer the

ship a little bit in different

directions so I think I've dipped a toe

in it uh and everyone seems to be

excited which is great that's very

Gratis fying yeah well I'll probably be

the thousandth person to tell you but

the show rules it's great I've watched

the whole thing and uh Jonah you've

talked about how you're a big Fallout 3

guy uh can I kind of ask you for your

history with the series like when did

did you start playing how many hours

have you lost to this

series uh started Fallout 3 shortly

after it was released which I think is

2008 I wouldn't feel good about putting

a number on exactly how many hours i'

played that game but it was a lot it's a

big game in your defense it's a Bethesda

game so and Todd you've talked about how

you were how you said no for years to a

Fallout adaptation um until Jonah came

along with his pitch now that we can

actually talk spoilers and talk details

I'm curious if there was any like

specific detail or specific hook in

Jonah's pitch that made you think oh

this guy gets it well when we first

talked first I was such a fan of the

work that he had done both in the movies

um and in television with with Westworld

and when we first talked it was you know

I wanted something that would stand up

as another entry in the series as

opposed to retelling one of the games we

did and sort of treat it like we do a

game and move the timeline forward and

do some great things and you know that's

what he was thinking as well which is

like hey what's our ability to tell a

new story TV is about you know finding

the characters and and how do we get the

tone right in the show so all of our

initial conversations were around mostly

tone right we know we're going to tell a

new story but I think the trick with

Fallout is the world itself and how you

go between all those different tones

that the games have and I thought you

know the show does that really really

well yeah you definitely have that like

kind of weird Fallout humor that is very

specific to Fallout so you definitely

see that along with like kind of the

darkness of the world as well and Todd

of course you're coming to this as kind

of like the Lore Master I'm curious of

when you went into the writer's room if

there were if you had to correct a bunch

of stuff or were they already like they

they knew their stuff when you came in

they really knew their stuff I'll tell

you what everybody behind the show it's

one of the things that you wish people

could see well I think you see in the

show right in terms of the passion

everybody involved in it brought to it

from Jonah to Graham and Geneva our

showrunners the actors the whole cast

and crew when you would go I would ask

people like are all TV show sets like

this like well no you see them all come

together and the people that were even

you know cameramen who were Fallout fans

and so obviously we were there from the

beginning to help sort of guide to make

sure things were you know in line tone

wise and other little bits of fiction

and other things but they were they were

so all over it and wanting to pull

things from every game from Fallout 1 to

three to New Vegas to four um there's

even some 76 stuff in there and I think

it's one of the really wonderful things

that it does if you're a fan of the

series and everybody has kind of their

favorite entry that you can see bits and

pieces of that in the show and Jonah

this show takes some very large Swings

with Fallout low and you're no you're no

stranger to Big IP you've done Batman

obviously but was the was there anything

where you were like is this too big a

swing am I taking too much Liberty with

the lore here well I think you want to

approach it from a place of of of

humility when you're dealing with and

and this is has been just a a dream

collaboration I mean the the partnership

with Todd and the rest of the amazing

Folks at at Bethesda and the support

there and the openness to our team with

with Geneva and Graham to be able to get

in here and and do some real

storytelling I think that the part that

was the most exciting but also the most

nervous making were all of the

flashbacks and it was something that

when we as we were talking about it and

Geneva and gr were getting more and more

excited about telling that story about

what happened before the war what

precipitated the war where you know one

little sliver of that larger story and a

little bit more of an Insight in voltech

that was the place where I was both the

most reliant on talking with Todd and

the team over there a lot about okay you

know let's make sure that we don't that

all of this fits fits together plays

nicely with all of the rest of the the L

um but the ability for the show which is

something that show you say you know why

even make a show out of a game the game

has so much so many so much flexibility

they're so big they're so epic there's

so many choices you can make and you're

you're removing a lot of that openness

with the series but the series can do

things like flashbacks that are a little

more challenging with the game so that

world that World Before the War which is

so distinct so satirical so it's so much

of the the flavor of these games and the

ability to play in that I think was was

incredibly exciting to us and given that

this show is telling kind of an original

story but it's still so so so loyal to

the world of the games I mean was there

any push back on you know making a show

that was extremely loyal to the lore in

art design of the games I say every look

every time we do a game we want we want

to push the story forward as well we're

looking at things and how do we add and

so the show does that as well you know

as they had story elements that they

wanted to do it's like oh that's really

interesting let's find a way to make

that work you know grma Geneva wanted to

blow up Shady Sands the first thing that

bring that up you're like what do you

want to

do I need to like you know I had

actually an emotional reaction to it

given the history of that location in

the franchise from Fallout one and we

talked through it and it was this would

be a pretty impactful story moment that

a lot of things anchor on so so making

that work and just so people here I know

are watching this like we're careful

about the timeline there might be a

little bit of confusion in some places

but everything that happened in the

previous games including New Vegas

happened um we're very careful about

that and so when they brought that up

you know threading that needle uh to

make sure that that was a moment that

landed in the show that also moved

things forward in terms of what's going

to be happening in the world of Fallout

um that that was a big one that we

talked about well I was actually

specifically going to ask you about that

shady Sands timeline conversation and

you say that you know nothing in in New

Vegas is reccon uh I think the rub to

kind of tldr it is that the fall quote

unquote of shady Sands happens in 2277

which is fall four years before New

Vegas so was that just like are people

just misunderstanding what the fall of

shady Sands means or like anything like

that I say is like yeah we're threading

it tight there but the the bomb Falls

just after the events of New Vegas like

that's when Shady SS so basically the

fall of shady yeah it doesn't mean a

nuke necessarily correct I'm glad we got

that out of the way it was a big

question

we are we are look we are tight on the

dates if you really want to get into it

but that what's important is when the

show takes place what is happening in

the time period of the show and that's

what's most important to us absolutely

and that kind of brings me to this

question of you could have made the show

in a way that say the MCU does where the

where the movies are separate from the

comics why make it intertwined with the

lore of the games well it definitely is

is harder to do right we just felt as

fans of Fallout that would be the kind

of show we'd want to watch um and the

things where we think the world of

Fallout is going in the future it's also

look for me I can't say enough about the

job Jonah and the whole team did on this

in terms of I love to work with other

creatives that are going to bring a lot

of new things to it and as Jonah was

referencing what they were able to do in

the past and voltech and there's there's

even more I just thought look as a fan

of Fallout is absolute Delight from our

end we had seen the care with which Todd

and the team of Bethesda had made sure

that all of these games connect together

everyone worked on Fallout all the games

were so respectful and so careful to

keep this consistent Universe if we gone

a different direction the show would be

the only thing that doesn't fit with

that Universe obviously there's

challenges there these are open World

Games in which some of the games have

you know you know the games all have

different endings different outcomes and

you have to H you have to find a way to

honor those but we didn't want to be in

our own private corner of an else world

or a different universe that felt like I

think that would be less meaningful to

me watching the series to know that it

was completely divorced from the reality

of the games from what I've heard from

you guys though it's more so that being

intertwined in the universe is more of

an asset than an obstacle am I am I

right I think definitely more of an

asset it is a challenge I mean as Todd

said it be you be much easier for us to

just kind of like a bull in a china shop

just go in here and pick whatever we

wanted and I've worked on adaptations

before where they're defined by the

degrees of difference from The Source

material where you're adapting a book

when you're adapting you know for

instance Westworld the original

brilliant film by Michel kryon I mean

you know that the series shares the

ethos of that film but very few very few

of the sort of story moments sometimes

it's about making changes sometimes and

it's always more difficult to thread

that needle of respecting all of the

lore respecting all the great

storytelling that's come before you and

trying to find a way to not only play

nicely with that but also add to it if

you can so like I said just a Just a

Dream collaboration uh I want to dive

into kind of this main Trio of

characters of Lucy Maximus and uh ghoul

or Cooper um and we'll start with Lucy I

I found it so refreshing how she is this

very optimistic character and you kind

of expect throughout season 1 for her to

take a turn but she never does like she

gets tougher and but she still remains

essentially the Leslie Noe of the

Wasteland I'm curious if that was always

the idea or if there was ever you know a

a thought where she might get a little

more cynical I think it's one of the

things that we really enjoyed about

Geneva Graham's pitch for these

characters from the beginning was that

you know there would be the ability to

grow and I think change is always a

possibility there but there would be

certain things that these characters

would really hold on to sort of

essential pieces of their character I

think Lucy is such an essentially such a

likable character in part because her

idealism is kind of unchallenged when it

starts and then as the story continues

you see what are the things that in this

kind of you know in The Crucible of the

Wasteland what's she going to discard

and what's she going to hold on to and

her essential decency is something that

I think even when she's tasked with

making some very difficult choices even

when she's tasked with taking a life I

think you still feel that decency

underneath it I I think that was a a

really exciting Choice yeah and she

really goes through it throughout season

one and I think you have this big reveal

of course that about her father Hank I

mean is he basically our big bad now you

have to stay stay tuned and see and we

love working with K mcclin what what a

what a treasure that guys God he's so

good and moving on you know I saw a take

that was uh the three characters are

kind of perfect embodiments of the D and

D alignment chart like Lucy is good

Maximus is neutral and uh ghoul is evil

and I really love thinking about Maximus

as neutral because a lot of his choices

I feel come from just naite uh what are

you kind of trying to say about the

Brotherhood of Steel as an organization

through this character for me just

remember that moment where they offer to

let you let you join up of go I'm not

not quite sure what of you know are we

in like a pver Hoven Starship Troopers

kind of moment here like do we feel good

about this organization or bad I mean

the helmet looks cool you want to wear

that armor right and I think for me Max

really represents you know my experience

playing these games where where I'd like

to think that you know I play through it

with with Lucy's moral virtue but the

truth is there's some moments where you

just want the big gun you just want the

kickass armor and you're trying to

figure out how much you're willing to

morally compromise job I think Aaron

mton just did such an incredible job of

portraying that neutrality that kind of

you know that that ambiguity of of which

way he's gonna go and and and that's how

it should be look you see it you see

this they when the the Airship comes and

they come walking out just like it's

completely badass I there's no other

word to be like I want to be

post-apocalyptic Iron Man tank and then

you know how compromised morally am I

going to be are they who are they out

for and I really love a lot of the

scenes where you know them teaching

technology or how they treat Squires um

the thing I definitely want to borrow is

I love I love the saw for how all of

these weapons are carried around with

the giant golf bag so if if I had like a

wish you'd see that in the game like 76

really but there there's so many great

Parts about the Brotherhood of Steel in

terms of what the Wasteland can mean and

so I I think Max often is is the player

like would I have done that is making

the right choices so and I think Aaron

Aaron pulls it off great he does he

absolutely does and I also find the

dynamic between Lucy and Max to be so

interesting I mean in your guys's

opinion are they like actually in Love

by the end of season 1 or is it

essentially like a marriage of

convenience like you're here I'm here

why don't we love each other no I I

don't think it's a marriage convenience

I think there there's a genuine Bond

there their their backgrounds are so

different and yet they've they've found

this space in between where they relate

no I think there's a very genuine level

of connection there I just you know in

the way of all things there's a little

bit of Comedy there's a little bit of

tragedy in the show so we'll see if they

can if they can find each other again

speaking of tragedy I think we have to

talk about Walton gogins and ghoul who

has just been a breakout character

without a doubt uh first of all the most

obvious question is is Cooper Howard

named after

Todd no no comment fair enough and I I

think one of the coolest lore reveals is

that uh he's kind of Vault boy or at

least vault booy is BAS based on

advertisements that Coupe did I mean is

that kind of where the character started

conversations with with gramy Geneva and

Todd talking about that lore and backing

into it we just love the idea of Cooper

you know when we knew the show was set

in Los Angeles and the kind of ruins of

Hollywood the idea of Cooper as this

figure embroiled in a kind of a Red

Scare McCarthy like moment in this

Bizarro alternate future was was kind of

too delicious for us to pass out because

here we are you know again the Hollywood

Hollywood [ __ ] coming to adapt this

beloved video game franchise so there

was a a meta satirical level that we

just that we just thought was delicious

and then of course this this question of

how far is too far in terms of actors or

writers or anyone in terms of that

corporate sponsorship you know sort of

going down that that that rabbit hole so

I I think picking up the mantle of the

satire from the games and trying to

direct it back towards vault tech was

one of the most exciting things that we

got a chance to do yeah absolutely and C

was a great way to do that and uh I'm

curious like kind of how what kind of

balance was there in kind of the I would

say more morally compromised uh ghoul

that we see and trying to also hold on

to who Coupe was 200 years ago that's an

ongoing story I think that's what one of

the things so fascinating about these

characters he's seen the whole story and

you you so seldom get a chance to you

know to to write a character with this

kind of span where you know in in

flashbacks you're talking you're looking

at someone who I think from the the

first frame you understand is decent you

know he makes some mistakes and he's

certainly got you know he he learned

some things along the way I think we

understand from his first interactions

with his daughter this inherently decent

person and then we see what the the rack

of time has has done to him and it

creates this Chasm between who he was

and who he is I think it's just a

fascinating thing for the show to

explore I think by the time you get to

the end of the season you understand

this is a this is a person who's capable

of evil capable of ruthlessness has seen

enough life come and go that that like

is truly cheap to him but I think there

is still a question of what drives this

what what is driving this person what

has been driving this person for for

these hundreds of years absolutely and

and you kind of have this great uh line

drop in the finale with both Barb and

Coupe saying war never changes was it

important for you guys to have that line

in there in a prominent role given that

it's kind of in certain ways the ethos

of Fallout Graham is an even bigger fan

of Fallout I would say a bigger fan but

a but a longer standing fan he's been

playing since the very first game and so

we talked and they talk Ram Jano talked

endlessly about the right moment for

that line to land I think a lot of

people would expect to see it in the

very beginning of the series I love the

way they kind of Casino royala they sort

of you know one of the beauties of that

film is that you wait the whole film to

hear that distinctive John Barry guitar

sting that announces that you know that

Bond bond has begun I think there's

opportunity to take that line and use it

to kind of plant a flag here that that

hopefully our story has just begun as

well staying on the subject of of Coupe

uh you have this huge reveal in the

finale that barb kind of betrayed him

and from my perspective it's a pretty

evil decision she was one of the

architects of of the nuking um are we

going to get an answer for that about is

there going to be some kind of

justification to kind of save Barb I

don't know if you say there's a

justification um but we're very much

hoping to continue telling that story

that's gonna be my answer for all these

questions I wish graah and Geneva were

here but they would say the same thing

again those flashbacks that story tell

those characters those actors was so

much fun for us that I think if we're

lucky enough to continue telling the

story that we'll definitely be a part of

it and I'm curious how you guys see the

NCR as it stands now like is it is it

demolished or is it kind of more like

the Minutemen where it's just kind of

fractured one of the takes that we

always have is to is to approach things

very locally when we're doing Fallout

you know we're careful about saying

what's going on in other parts of the

world and we always take this view of

like communication is difficult and

look if you look at the the background

the NCR is is a wide ranging sort of

organization and group across not just

California but other places so the show

focuses on this period of time and this

group here and that's you know that's

what we could say right now but I I

don't think you've heard the last of the

NCR absolutely and I'm sure we haven't

heard the last of moldaver again

question that will probably be answered

in season two are we going to find out

why she's been around for so long

because we didn't find that out in

season one we did not did we I think uh

I would I would love to I would love to

to spend a little more time yeah Sharita

is a lovely lovely human being fantastic

actor and and I think uh picking up that

story would be great ton all right I'll

take a break from grilling you guys

about the lore and ask you about some of

the BTS uh for all the people that we

did see I I loved like the Matt Berry

Cameo that was great I was a little

surprised not to see Mr Ron Pearlman in

the show given that he has such a big

role in the games was there any talk of

of bringing him in there are so many

Treasures in these games that I think

you know some of the characters some of

the factions some of the locations we

didn't want to try to tackle everything

in in one season so again a question I

would leave up to to grah and Geneva but

I like the the pace there there were

moments in which you sort of say Okay

pace yourself I me I think one of the

reasons why Todd and I in that very

first conversation recognized that this

had to be a series was because the scope

of the games each individual game is as

we as we said you know 50 to 100 to many

many more hours of gameplay there's so

much storytelling each of these games

that we knew from the beginning a movie

couldn't possibly Encompass all of it

even one season of a series couldn't get

close so there's been a mantra from the

beginning you know and again with with

fingers crossed that that everyone loved

the show and get a chance to keep going

I think a mantra with Janea and Graham

that we sort of and conversations a lot

of conversations that we have we say you

know you Pace yourselves right you're

not going to try to tackle every single

part of this universe in one go it's a

big universe with with and and speaking

of celebrities who are fans of Fallout

uh have you heard from anyone since the

show came out who's like hey I love

follow was it why wasn't I in the show

can I be in season

two we we've been here from so many

people and it's kind of fun to see The

Fallout fans kind of come come out of

the woodwork people you've known a long

time and you kind of realize oh you

you've been playing this whole time so

it's been a lot of fun are you gonna get

your brother into Fallout

Jonah or is he into it am I wrong we we

grew up playing games together um but

mainly when we get together and I think

most of the gaming that he does he it's

just Cooperative stuff with me

occasionally but we both had kids he's

got a lot of kids and I got lots of kids

and now they get to play the games I

think the last game I played with Chris

was uh was was probably uh rock band

with his kits it's a good one I love it

I still have the drums and the guitar in

my apartment you know BR brings a family

of of talentless musicians

together and uh Todd I want to switch

gears a little bit uh and ask more about

the games uh we obviously know that

Fallout 5 is in the works um but you

have in the past that it's the plan is

Elder scrs 6 and then Fallout 5 is that

still the plan or is there any chance

that that could change based on the

interest from the show I'm gonna avoid

putting dates on anything I've learned

that the hard way so obviously you know

our Focus as far as uh new development

right now is is Elder School six but

that doesn't mean that we're not making

plans for other things we're still doing

a lot of work uh obviously on Fallout 76

and uh we see the community so people

going into that game and kind of

rediscovering it and just so happy with

where that that game is at and it really

does and I mean this has one of the best

communities in all of gaming like

surprisingly it's like a very very nice

apocalypse and we're doing a lot of

Starfield work as well so we have some

really good updates that are uh you know

going to get announced soon for that

game so a lot a lot going on here and to

press you about the future now Jonah and

I in the past you've talked about you

know kind of wanting to finish Westworld

and having this you know plan for it I'm

curious if you and Graham and Geneva

have this multi-season plan for Fallout

or are you kind of still like feeling it

out no we talked it through I think you

know you have a responsibility when you

undertake one of these Journeys to have

a bit of a plan you'd also be foolish to

not account for the things along the way

that's one of the beauties of Television

you'll start working with an actor who

maybe came in for you know a little

Cameo and then and then winds up

becoming a you know a key part of your

universe that's happened on every show

I've ever worked on so you you want to

have a plan but you also want to be

flexible enough to and adaptable enough

that you're not locked into that and for

the for the obvious reason that you know

especially these days you know with

these shows you want to make every

season as great as you can we approach

it more now from the perspective the

same place we approached a film

franchise where you try to make a

terrific season and if you're lucky

enough to go again you you make a you

make a followup but you leave enough

material and you have enough of of a

master plan from the beginning that you

know what the next step would be and I I

we have been we have been talking for

some time now about the next steps for

Fallout and we're very excited about it

well I for one very very much hope we

get to see it and I don't know where the

time went but we are out of it uh thanks

you guys so much uh guys at home Fallout

is now on Prime video season 1

completely streaming uh and and Todd and

Jonah thanks again for joining me today

thank you thank you this was awesome