Amazon Prime’s Fallout series has captivated audiences worldwide, drawing over 65 million viewers in its first two weeks and becoming a massive hit. Fans and newcomers alike have been drawn into its post-apocalyptic world, a desolate wasteland that feels strikingly real. But Where Was Fallout Filmed to achieve such authenticity? The series didn’t rely solely on CGI; instead, it utilized a range of real-world locations across Namibia, Nevada, New Jersey, and Utah, bringing the grim reality of the Fallout universe to life.
When Does The Fallout Show Take Place? Setting the Scene
The Fallout series plunges viewers into the year 2296, a staggering 219 years after the devastating Great War that turned the world into a nuclear wasteland. We follow Lucy MacLean, Cooper Howard, and Maximus as their paths intertwine amidst the ruins of civilization. The show masterfully captures the iconic Fallout aesthetic, blending retro-futurism with stark desolation. While CGI certainly plays a role, the tangible environments are crucial in immersing viewers in this bleak future.
Unveiling the Wasteland: Real Locations of Fallout
The production team behind Fallout prioritized practical locations to ground the fantastical elements of the series in reality. Howard Cummings, the show’s production designer, emphasized a philosophy of “how do I Fallout this?” when approaching real-world locations. This meant finding places that already possessed an apocalyptic feel or could be adapted to fit the Fallout universe’s unique visual language.
Namibia: The Desert Wasteland Comes to Life
Namibia played a significant role in creating the vast, desolate landscapes synonymous with Fallout. The hauntingly beautiful Skeleton Coast and the Namib Desert provided the backdrop for many exterior shots. Notably, the eerie shipwreck Lucy encounters in the teaser trailer is real – the Eduard Bohlen, a German vessel stranded on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast.
However, the most strikingly “Fallout-esque” location in Namibia is Kolmanskop, an abandoned diamond mining town. As Cummings described it, Kolmanskop “says apocalypse when you just look at it.” Its buildings, partially buried in sand and some deliberately destroyed decades ago, offered an unparalleled setting for the snake oil salesman scenes and other desolate wasteland vistas. Despite Mad Max: Fury Road also filming in the Namib Desert, Fallout utilized areas of Kolmanskop previously untouched by film crews, adding to its unique visual identity.
Utah: Brotherhood of Steel’s Stronghold
Utah’s Wendover Airfield provided the perfect setting for the imposing Brotherhood of Steel base. This expansive airfield, dating back to the 1930s and used as a bombing range during World War II, already possessed the historical and somewhat weathered aesthetic needed for Fallout. Many of the buildings seen in the series are actual structures from Wendover Airfield, adding layers of authenticity and historical weight to the Brotherhood’s imposing presence. The airfield’s vastness and desert surroundings seamlessly translated into the isolated and formidable base seen in the show.
New York: Rust Belt Echoes of the Past
While perhaps unexpected, New York State, particularly New York City and its surrounding areas, offered unique locations that resonated with Fallout’s themes. New York City, despite its modern metropolis image, retains areas reminiscent of the “Rust Belt” – regions that experienced industrial decline in the latter half of the 20th century. Abandoned factories and manufacturing buildings in these areas provided ideal dystopian backdrops.
The Brooklyn Army Terminal served as the chilling Enclave base in the series. Its collection of imposing, slightly decaying buildings already possessed an eerie, dystopian atmosphere, requiring minimal modification to become a believable Enclave stronghold.
Nyack & Staten Island: Familiar Fallout Landmarks
For fans of the Fallout games, the Red Rocket gas station and Super Duper Mart are instantly recognizable landmarks. The series cleverly brought these locations to life using real-world counterparts in New York. In Nyack, a village in Rockland County, a unique gas station was transformed into the iconic Red Rocket, echoing its appearance in Fallout 4. This same gas station, recognizable in its distinctive design, has even been featured in other productions like John Wick.
Staten Island provided the location for the Super Duper Mart. An abandoned Shoprite on Hylan Boulevard was dressed and modified to become the familiar, slightly dilapidated supermarket from Fallout 3 and 4, offering another layer of fan service and grounded realism.
Conclusion: Authenticity in the Wasteland
By filming in diverse real-world locations across Namibia, Utah, and New York, the Fallout series achieved a level of visual authenticity rarely seen in post-apocalyptic adaptations. From the sprawling deserts of Namibia and Utah to the industrial decay of New York, each location contributed to the believability of the wasteland. This commitment to practical filming locations, combined with stunning set design and CGI enhancements, is a key ingredient in Fallout’s success, immersing viewers in a world that feels both fantastical and disturbingly real.
