Fallout (TV Show): 12 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know

In case you did not know, Fallout is an American post-apocalyptic drama television series created by Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet for Amazon Prime Video.

Fallout draws inspiration from the iconic role-playing video game series of the same name, created by the visionary minds of Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky. The television adaptation assembles an impressive ensemble cast, led by Ella Purnell (who also appears in Yellowjackets), Aaron Moten, Kyle MacLachlan, Moisés Arias, Xelia Mendes-Jones, and Walton Goggins (who has gained fame for his roles in Justified and The Shield).

These talented actors bring to life the inhabitants of the show’s post-apocalyptic world, originally envisioned through the acclaimed gaming franchise.

Fallout is set in an alternate history where a nuclear war between the United States and China in 2077 devastated the Earth. In this retrofuturistic world, many survivors took shelter in underground Vaults built by Vault-Tec, unaware these were actually designed to conduct unethical social experiments.

Over 200 years later in 2296, the story follows Lucy, a young woman from Vault 33, as she ventures into the harsh post-apocalyptic wasteland of Los Angeles.

Her mission is to find her father, who was kidnapped by ruthless wasteland raiders. On her perilous journey, Lucy crosses paths with a Brotherhood of Steel squire and a legendary ghoul bounty hunter, both harboring enigmatic backgrounds and personal vendettas.

As they navigate this devastated landscape teeming with dangers, their paths converge in an gripping tale that explores the harsh realities and survivors’ struggles in this bleak, futuristic world born from nuclear annihilation.

There’s probably a lot that you don’t know about this series, but today my aim is to change that…

Here are 12 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know about the Fallout TV Series

1. The fictional western film A Man and His Dog mentioned in the series is an overt nod to the classic post-apocalyptic tale A Boy and His Dog by acclaimed author Harlan Ellison. Ellison’s 1969 short story, which was later adapted into the 1975 film of the same name, tells the story of a young boy and his telepathic canine companion navigating a desolate, post-nuclear world.

This influential work served as a major inspiration for the Fallout video game franchise, particularly evident in the recurring presence of the iconic character Dogmeat – the loyal canine companion to the player’s protagonist. By referencing A Man and His Dog, the series creators pay homage to the literary source material that helped shape the bleak, yet strangely humorous tone that defines the series’ take on the apocalyptic wasteland.

2. Despite its name, the settlement of “Filly” in the Fallout universe has no direct connection to the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Instead, this nomenclature stems from the fact that the town was constructed atop an old landfill site.

3. For those eager to delve deeper into the immersive world of Fallout, the Vault-Tec phone number (213) 258-2858 featured in the series’ commercials holds an intriguing surprise. Rather than a standard message, dialing this number leads to a special pre-recorded message that further expands the show’s narrative and lore.

4. Ella Purnell (who plays the role of Lucy MacLean in the series) played the Fallout games as a way to prepare herself for the role.

5. The canine companion featured in the Fallout series is a Belgian Malinois, a breed renowned for its intelligence and exceptional ability to learn and follow commands.

6. Exterior shots for the Super Duper Mart were filmed in Staten Island at the end of July 2022. A closed-down Shop Rite was transformed into the in-game chain, clearly visible from the main road.

Although production added tarps to the fence, the Super Duper Mart sign painted on the building remained visible. Sneaking onto the set was easy because the fence could be easily scaled due to the parking lot design, and a back entrance was left wide open.

7. In the scene where Lucy encounters her first top dweller, the house is located in Kolmanskop, an abandoned diamond mining town in Namibia.

8. This marks Michael Emerson’s first collaboration with Jonathan Nolan since their work on Person of Interest (2011).

9. The Observatory (the New California Republic’s headquarters) also appeared in The Terminator (1984) as the location where Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character arrives after traveling through time.

10. At the start of each episode, the Fallout logo disappears in a unique manner, mirroring the fate of a character in that episode, such as being shot or burned.

11. The show was renewed for a second season. Filming started in October 2024.

12. Season 2 of Fallout will premiere on Amazon Prime on the 17th of December 2025.

Well, there you have it, 12 interesting facts you might not have known about the Fallout TV show. If I’ve left out something important, feel free to comment below.

Watch the trailer for the first season of the show below:

Watch this space for updates in the Facts category on Running Wolf’s Rant.