Pre-production is underway for Season 3 of the Amazon Fallout TV series, with principal photography set to begin this month in Los Angeles. Bethesda development chief Todd Howard has indicated that the new season will introduce elements and locations previously unexplored within the Fallout video game franchise.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Howard revealed that the series is poised to venture into new geographical areas within the Fallout universe. He stated that the team is excited to showcase "some new things in the Fallout world that I think will surprise people, that they've never seen before in the games." This approach aligns with the episodic nature of the Fallout games, each typically exploring a distinct post-apocalyptic region, such as the Capital Wasteland in Fallout 3 or the Commonwealth surrounding Boston in Fallout 4.
The Season 2 finale set the stage for Season 3 by pointing towards Colorado as the next primary location. The character of The Ghoul, portrayed by Walton Goggins, is on a journey to this region. Co-showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet noted in a previous interview with IGN that the journey itself might not be straightforward, suggesting that detours and unexpected events are characteristic of the Fallout narrative.
Howard echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of geography in the Fallout universe and the potential for exploration. "There's a lot of land out there, there's a lot of places to explore yet," he said, highlighting the creative freedom the TV series offers in introducing fresh environments.
The decision to explore a new location in Season 3 was influenced by the video games' tradition of regional settings. Robertson-Dworet explained that the anticipation of discovering a new area is a key part of the appeal of a new Fallout installment. With Season 1 set in Los Angeles and Season 2 in the vicinity of New Vegas, the move to a new, unexplored territory like post-apocalyptic Colorado represents a deliberate expansion of the established canon. While the mainline games have not featured Colorado, a canceled version of Fallout 3 codenamed "Van Buren" was reportedly set in the region. The TV series exists within the Fallout timeline and is considered canon, continuing the overarching narrative established by the games.