Bethesda may be bringing the post-apocalyptic Fallout series to TV according to a recent trademark filing…
The Fallout series, right from the beginning, has had a highly detailed world and complex lore. It’s had a myriad of memorable characters and each game has been responsible for eating hours and hours of people’s spare time. In fact, there probably enough subject matter in there to make not only a film or two, but perhaps, and entire TV series.
Well, it looks as though Bethesda also thinks along these lines, and through a recent discovery by a Bethesda community forum member, it’s been revealed that the publisher has placed a trademark filing (filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office) for the Fallout name which relates to "an ongoing television programme set in a post-nuclear apocalyptic world."
This is interesting enough, and the thought of a Fallout TV series will no doubt cause fans to go all wobbly at the knees. However, what’s even more interesting, and lends even more credence to the rumour, is that the patent was filed on January 8. The very next day Eric Todd Dellums, the man behind the DC Wasteland DJ, ThreeDog, tweeted that people could expect to hear more from his character.
So, does this mean that the TV series is, indeed true, and if so, will it be based on Fallout 3, and set in the DC Wasteland? Or, is there still a chance that Fallout 4 is on the cards?
Well, let’s take a step back. Of course Fallout 4 will happen. How could it not? Both Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas were huge sellers, and Bethesda would be foolish to even consider not making another in the series. The question here is when it’ll happen. Now that the TV series rumour has kicked up, it may not happen as soon as expected, unless a new game arrives in tandem with the TV series as a cross promotion.
A Fallout TV series, on the other hand, would be a little more touch and go. For one, American TV has shown that it’s not exactly fond of Sci-Fi shows in the last couple of years, with some potentially great ideas being canned left, right and centre, and the cost to produce a show based on Fallout would be higher than your usual TV budget. Well, it would be if it was done any justice.
If it does happen, will Fallout 3’s DC Wasteland be the setting? It would certainly make sense. Fallout 3 was the more successful of the two recent releases (the older games were based in California and the west coast) and a show depicting the capital city in a post apocalyptic setting may well garner more interest.
Its early days, and a simple patent filing doesn’t really mean all that much on its own. Plenty of filings have been made in the past based on pure possibility, but nothing has ever manifested, so we’ll have to wait and see.
What is certain is that a TV series based on the Fallout license would be a very ambitious endeavour, and if done right, could be very interesting. We’ll bring you more news as it comes. Oh, and if you’ve missed/don’t play the games and you’re sat there wondering what Fallout actually is, have a look at the Fallout 3 trailers below and find out.
