Amazon Studios has revealed the official release date for its TV adaptation of Bethesda's iconic video game series Fallout – and it's a surprising one to say the least.
Announcing 'Fallout Day' on its Prime Video social media channels, Amazon confirmed that its Fallout TV show will emerge from its vault on April 12, 2024. The unveiling was made in the style of the franchise's infamous Pip Boy graphics, which showcases how faithful the post-apocalyptic action-drama series is set to be to its source material.
04.12.24. #Falloutpic.twitter.com/3Go3llsjtDOctober 23, 2023
It's high time we learned of an official release date for Fallout's TV adaptation. It was way back in July 2020 that Amazon first announced it would create a series based on Bethesda Games' fan-favorite action role-playing game (RPG) series. At the time, Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy were revealed to be developing and writing the show, and given their stellar work on the aforementioned dystopian sci-fi TV series, the pair seem like the perfect fit to tackle a Fallout TV show.
Of course, the jury is out on whether Amazon's take on Fallout will take a spot on our best Prime Video shows list. The multinational behemoth is yet to release any official footage for the series – a fuzzy trailer did leak online in September, though, which suggests that the show has captured the correct look and vibe of its video game counterpart. Until the show is in the hands of the press, we won't be able to ascertain how good it could potentially be, too.
One thing I can comment on, however, is Amazon's decision to release Fallout in April 2024 – and I think it's missed an apocalyptic trick in deciding when to debut the series on its primary streaming platform.
please don’t let what happened to halo happen to this fallout. I cant take another one of my favorite game franchises being turned to garbageOctober 23, 2023
You see, Bethesda has traditionally released new entries in its Fallout game series in the final few months of the year. Indeed, the first three installments in the Fallout franchise launched in October 1997, 1998, and 2008 respectively. Other notable entries, including Fallout: New Vegas (October 2010), Fallout 4 (November 2015), and Fallout 76 (November 2018) also debuted in what's generally considered the period known as Q4, aka the last quarter of the year.
It seems bizarre, then, that Fallout is going to air on Prime Video in early 2024. Okay, Fallout wouldn't be ready to land on one of the world's best streaming services before 2023 is over – it's likely in the midst of its post-production phase. And waiting until late 2024 to release it may not be the best cause of action, either, especially if the series is ready to go earlier than that.
However, I can't help but feel that not releasing Fallout on Prime Video in the latter months of either year is a missed opportunity. Given Bethesda's penchant for releasing tentpole Fallout games in Q4, it would be fitting to launch the series during a similar period.
That said, there is a part of me that thinks Fallout's April 2024 launch might hint at what lies in store from a story perspective. There are two specific Fallout spin-off games that actually bucked Bethesda's release date trend to arrive in early 2001 and 2004 – Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel and, well, Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel.
Is Amazon suggesting that its Fallout adaptation will center on this paramilitary group? Given that we know little about the show's cast of characters, perhaps it will. The only information we have right now is that Walton Goggins (Invincible, Ant-Man and the Wasp) will portray an unnamed Ghoul – see the actor's Instagram post above for confirmation – but other characters' identities are yet to be revealed. That includes Ella Purnell (Arcane), who landed the show's lead role after her performance in Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead.
With an official release date now set, here's hoping we'll get a trailer and learn more about the show's plot soon. Well, outside of us learning that it'll be set in Los Angeles and the series will be part of the Fallout franchise's canon, anyway.
