Amazon Prime’s Fallout show is set to release next month and fans of the iconic series are beyond excited. The full trailer was just released a few days ago, and the reactions are all positive. Video game adaptations were a trend in the past and were expensive disasters, but today they are gaining momentum and more recent entries are decent at the least. Amazon is leaning toward an original story rather than an adaptation.
Amazon Prime’s Fallout Show Is Not An Adaptation But A Loose Continuation
Translating video games to another format, especially a live-action film or series, can be extremely challenging. While other franchises like The Last of Us were successfully and faithfully adapted with a few minor changes such as the removal of sequences and changing the heritage of characters, the series was a perfect adaptation. The Uncharted film was an original story that didn’t adapt any of the games and granted them freedom, something Amazon is striving for.
The common struggle when adapting a project to another media is how to stay true to the source material. Especially with very protective and critical fanbases that will nitpick even the tiniest detail and call out showrunners and filmmakers for their inaccuracy.
Fortunately, Fallout is a vast universe that can take place at any point in time, the showrunners opted to have their series set decades after the original games.
This creative decision can open doors of opportunities that can both honor the original franchise while also expand it. Not being bound to story beats because there are no beats to follow, this series can bring legacy fans to uncharted territory while being able to introduce it to a newer audience that didn’t hear of the franchise prior.
The Fallout Show Is Made For Fans By Fans
Change is scary but it’s scarier to stay the same forever, if fans are upset with the direction of the show not being a shot-for-shot remake or a faithful adaptation then they are the enemies of change. Director Jonathan Nolan was a fan of the games and Bethesda Games CEO and director of the Fallout games Todd Howard met over lunch and discussed the possibility of bringing the world of Fallout to live-action, and after a quick meal and a handshake, history was made.
While the two creative geniuses were in agreement, Howard was adamant that this live-action project should not be an adaptation or a retelling of the story from the original games. Nolan took on the daunting task to contribute in this franchise that is beloved by many including the director. Benefitted by the non-existent constraints, Nolan can take the franchise in a new and original direction.
Fallout is not the only video game property they are working on, Sony Santa Monica’s God of War is also being worked on and will heavily be based on the recent Norse saga titles which will be a different tone and direction compared to Fallout. Are you glad that Amazon is working on an original story rather than a retelling? Let us know in the comments below!
