Against the odds for a videogame adaptation, Fallout‘s live action TV show has become one of the best sci-fi TV shows on Prime Video. Fallout broke the rules for an adaptation by reflecting the theme of the Fallout video game franchise, rather than trying to adapt a specific story. This has allowed the creators much more room to put their own spin on the source material’s most recognizable characters, as well as adding new original characters. The cast of Fallout features many experienced sci-fi actors, but season 3 is starting to become an exciting reunion for another sci-fi show.
It was recently announced that Aaron Paul will be joining the cast of Fallout season 3, with the details about his role being kept under wraps for now. The actor is a fan of the franchise, and it is likely that he will feel at home as he is reuniting with two of his Westworld colleagues. Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy co-created Westworld, and both now work on Fallout, with the pair co-creating, writing, and executive producing the show.
With its outlaw characters, vigilante justice, and unexplored “wild” areas of desert, Fallout has the tone of a great sci-fi Western, and occasionally the aesthetic too, especially in Walton Goggins’ iconic character, The Ghoul. No matter how far it leans into the post-apocalyptic and sci-fi genres, this is an atmosphere that Fallout should continue to embrace, and one major casting could do this perfectly. Nolan and Joy should consider casting Westworld‘s Ed Harris as one of the video game’s most enigmatic characters.
Ed Harris Would Be A Great Fit As The Mysterious Stranger In The Fallout Show
The Mysterious Stranger is a recurring character in the Fallout universe. He randomly appears in combat, often just as all hope appears to be lost, and uses his signature revolver to eliminate or damage the enemy. With his fedora hat and trench coat, he is instantly recognizable, and the TV show could provide an excellent moment of fan service by introducing the character with his associated guitar riff.
The Mysterious Stranger has not yet appeared in the Fallout TV show on Prime Video, but if he ever does, he should be played by Ed Harris. Harris’ scene-stealing performance made Westworld‘s The Man in Black into one of the most iconic Western TV show villains of all time, and his onscreen presence would easily translate to playing The Mysterious Stranger in Fallout.
The two characters are extremely different, with The Mysterious Stranger being an enigmatic presence who arrives to help the player, while The Man in Black is a monstrous character who, disappointed by the lack of real danger in Westworld‘s theme park, is determined to make the stakes higher for the people there. What they share is visual impact, with a “lone gunslinger” aesthetic. Fallout has referenced its actors’ previous roles before, and this would make a perfect reference to the connection with Westworld.
Fallout Already Paid Homage To The Video Game Franchise’s Mysterious Stranger
While the character has not made an official appearance in the show, Fallout made a Mysterious Stranger reference in the season 2 finale. When Maximus took on what appeared to be a hopeless battle, preparing to fight against the formidable Deathclaws with a pipe and a shield, this quickly became a desperate situation in which hope felt lost. In the games, this is exactly the kind of situation in which The Mysterious Stranger sometimes appears.
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The two released seasons of Fallout |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Date |
Episodes |
Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Rating |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating |
|
1 |
2024 |
8 |
93% |
95% |
|
2 |
2025 |
8 |
96% |
96% |
When a shot hits the Deathclaw in front of Maximus, it is revealed to be from a sniper in full tactical gear. While this was not The Mysterious Stranger, the moment appeared set up to remind fans of the video game about the character. This could be a hint that he will turn up in a future season of Fallout, and perhaps with a backstory. It is not essential to be a fan of the games to enjoy the TV series, but showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet has confirmed that season 3 of Fallout will introduce long-awaited game elements.
Prime Video’s Fallout often references the video games through Easter eggs and hidden details, so it is possible that the season 2 finale moment was intended as a nod to The Mysterious Stranger. However, as the story does not reflect the video games, it is possible that he could appear in a more prominent role at some point, whether in a similar role as in the video games, or as a fully realized character, joining characters like Moldaver and Robert House, who appear in both the Fallout games and TV show.
- Release Date
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April 10, 2024
- Network
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Amazon Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan
