Why Bethesda Waited Years to Approve a Fallout TV Series
For years, Bethesda turned down Hollywood’s offers to adapt Fallout, holding out for the perfect creative team. Discover what made the studio finally say yes—and why Todd Howard’s patience paid off.
For over a decade, Bethesda was approached time and again by Hollywood studios eager to bring Fallout to the big or small screen. Yet, despite the persistent interest, the game developer consistently declined, unwilling to hand over the reins to just anyone. According to longtime Bethesda designer Emil Pagliarulo, the studio’s reluctance was rooted in a desire to protect the franchise ’s legacy.
Pagliarulo recently shared insight into the decision-making process, crediting Todd Howard for steering the company away from early offers.
“Credit to Todd Howard, we could have made a Fallout movie or Fallout TV show a decade ago – we had certainly been asked. But Hollywood, at the time, they wanted to throw 'the videogame directors ' at us,”
Pagliarulo explained.
“We don't want the guy who makes videogame movies. We want the best director, the best showrunner possible…a lot of it was waiting to find the right partner, and not just doing it because you could.”
Hollywood’s Track Record and Bethesda’s Caution
Back then, the idea of a successful adaptation of a video game was almost unheard of. While there have been a few standout films and series in recent years, a decade ago, Hollywood’s reputation for adapting games was shaky at best. Bethesda, understandably, was wary of letting one of its most beloved properties be handled by filmmakers who might not do it justice.
The studio’s hesitation wasn’t just about creative control—it was about finding someone who truly understood what made Fallout special. The team wanted to avoid the pitfalls of previous adaptations that failed to capture the spirit of their source material.
Finding the Right Creative Team
It wasn’t until much later that Bethesda finally found the right partners to bring Fallout to life. The breakthrough came with Prime Video ’s showrunners Graham Wagner, known for his work on Portlandia, The Office, and Silicon Valley, and Geneva Robertson-Dworet, who had previously written for Captain Marvel and Tomb Raider. Their combined experience and vision convinced Bethesda that the time was finally right.
The result was a series that not only met but exceeded expectations, earning widespread acclaim from both critics and fans. The show currently boasts a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a testament to the studio’s patience and commitment to quality.