Fallout's TV Hit Paves Way for an Elder Scrolls Series
The massive success of the Fallout series on Amazon Prime has everyone wondering what's next for Bethesda. Studio head Todd Howard has finally addressed the possibility of another beloved franchise getting the Hollywood treatment. Could the world of Tamriel be coming to the small screen?
The phenomenal success of the Fallout show on Amazon Prime has turned Bethesda's sci-fi RPG into a streaming sensation. Naturally, fans are now looking toward the studio's other massive world: the fantasy epic The Elder Scrolls. Bethesda's own Todd Howard has weighed in on whether a trip to Tamriel is on the horizon, but his answer suggests fans shouldn't hold their breath.
A Patient Approach
Howard recently told Eurogamer that while he "can't rule in or rule out an Elder Scrolls thing in the future," any potential adaptation would be a marathon, not a sprint. He pointed to the long road the Fallout series took to get made, a process that spanned nearly a decade from the initial conversations after Fallout 3.
"I will say this, the Fallout journey was like a 10 year one," Howard explained. "After Fallout 3, people were asking to do a movie or show for Fallout, and we really took our time." He emphasized that the studio is in no rush, adding, "But, you never know. I think the impact of the show on Fallout as a franchise has been bigger than I expected, so it does make you think like 'hey, is there a path?'. But, nothing today… [and] I'm willing to say 'no' for a decade."
A Different Kind of World
Howard also believes that Fallout was a more natural fit for a screen adaptation. He feels it is "more uniquely suited" to the medium, with "more to say in its genre." This makes alot of sense, as any new high-fantasy drama would immediately be measured against the colossal shadow of HBO's Game of Thrones franchise, for good or ill.
The Fallout series sidesteps these comparisons with its quirky, retro-futuristic vision of a post-apocalyptic America. It's a world filled with mutated creatures, ruthless bandits, and the eerie, 1950s-inspired underground bunkers known as Vaults. This unique setting provides a fresh backdrop, following characters like Ella Purnell's Lucy MacLean as she ventures out from her sheltered life into the harsh reality of the irradiated wasteland. The show's success has already led to a renewal for a second season on Amazon Prime Video.