Fallout's Deathclaw Is Real, and It's Not CGI
The second season of Fallout is set to unleash the wasteland's most feared predator on television audiences. Bringing the iconic beast to the screen presented a unique challenge for the creators, who chose a surprising method to capture its terrifying presence. Discover the incredible story behind the monster.
The wasteland of Fallout's second season is crawling with all sorts of horrors, but one creature looms larger and more menacingly than any other: the Deathclaw. For years, this towering, horned beast has been the stuff of nightmares for gamers who dared to wander into its territory. Now, a new audience of television viewers is about to experience the sheer terror of this unholy creation.
A Hands-On Approach to Horror
What might come as a major surprise, especially for dedicated fans of the franchise, is the show's commitment to bringing the creature to life through largely practical means. Walton Goggins, who plays the Ghoul, shared his astonishment with SFX magazine. He confessed that he initially "couldn't wrap his head" around the early concept sketches from production designer Howard Cummings. However, seeing the final version as a massive, tangible puppet made all the difference on set.
"Thankfully, I didn’t have to look up into the rafters of a stage and imagine this, because we have puppeteers," Goggins explained. "It’s not a green screen; there are puppeteers manning this thing. It’s cumbersome and it’s weird, but they’re doing the work to intimidate us. It’s incredible." This method provides the actors with a real, physical presence to react to, enhancing the authenticity of their performances.
A Commitment to Realism
This dedication to practical effects shouldn't be a shock to anyone familiar with the Prime Video series. From the very beginning, Fallout has distinguished itself with its tactile, grounded world. The first season famously featured fully functional Pip-Boys worn by the cast and even included detailed Vault documents placed on set, which Bethesda's own Todd Howard reportedly discovered during a visit.
This philosophy ensures that the world feels lived-in and real, not like a digital backdrop. By building its most fearsome adversary as a physical object, the showrunners are doubling down on the immersive quality that made the first season such a hit with both critics and audiences.
Building the Hype
So far, audiences have only been given brief teases of the monstrous animal, most notably in the latest trailer for the upcoming season. For players who survived the infamous quarry in New Vegas, which was swarming with these predators, the thought of seeing them again might be enough to trigger some serious PTSD. For everyone else, the anticipation is building to see what kind of practical wizardry the Fallout team has conjured up this time.
Fallout season 2 hits Prime Video on December 17. For more, check out our picks for the best Prime Video shows.