Peter Gillibrand and Jared EvittsBBC Newsbeat
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Justin Theroux says people relate to Fallout’s characters “because they’re the ones that got left behind”
Fallout star Justin Theroux says he feels post-apocalyptic stories are “captivating because they’re possible”.
The hit TV show is an adaptation of the popular role-playing game of the same name, set 200 years after a nuclear war leaves the Earth a wasteland.
Players navigate the destroyed world and the different factions that live within it.
Justin, who plays Robert House, the ruler of New Vegas, spoke to BBC Newsbeat at the show’s series two premiere in London about how he feel this is part of its appeal.
“We all have the knowledge that nuclear weaponry exists and we rely on, hopefully, intelligent people not to use them,” he says.
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The hit TV show is an adaptation of the role-playing gaming of the same name
“I think the reason why they (fans) relate to the characters of Fallout is because they’re the ones that got left behind.
“They have to make sense of the tragedy that was Armageddon.”
Lead actress Ella Purnell plays Lucy MacLean in the show, a vault dweller raised underground in a protective bunker in the aftermath of the nuclear war.
For her, the series’ success is down to its tone, balancing “the comedy, with the drama, and the heart”.
“I think it’s the visual aesthetic and also the music,” she says.
“I think it’s the, sort of, retro-futuristic, they’ve somehow made the apocalypse really entertaining.”
The series weaves together the stories of three characters, including Lucy, striving to survive in a world ravaged by nuclear bombs.
“One of the wonderful things about the show is that I trust every single person on this show so incredibly much,” she says.
“The writers, the creators, love the game. They all love the game. My job is to make Lucy as truthful as I possibly can, and their job is to make sure that we do service to the game.
“With that combined, it’s just this beautiful collaboration.”
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Ella Purnell says the series balances “the comedy, with the drama, and the heart”
Another actor Newsbeat spoke to, Kyle MacLachlan, who plays Hank MacLean, Lucy’s father and overseer of the vault, says the series is very “true to the games”.
“The creators have done an amazing job with the universe of Fallout,” he says.
“It’s complex, and deep, and full, and rich, and highly immersive and highly engaging.”
He feels fans have welcomed the show as the characters are “so well developed” and “created beautifully”.
Kyle also thinks the intrigue of wondering “what would I do in this situation?” draws people in.
“And the writing is so clever and wonderful, so I think all of those things contribute to the success of the show,” he adds.
Justin says he played the first edition of the game in 1997, but hasn’t explored New Vegas yet, which the upcoming series is based on.
To prepare for the role, he says he watched “hours of gameplay” on YouTube, but as for whether he’d survive in the show himself?
“Absolutely not,” he admits. “I don’t even go camping. I can’t even imagine walking across the wasteland.”
The second season of Fallout will be released in the UK on 17 December on Amazon Prime.
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or listen back here.
