Fallout season 2 is officially heading to New Vegas – and if the first trailer is any indication, we're in for quite the ride.
When Ghoul actor Walton Goggins told GamesRadar+ that he "wasn't prepared for where the story was gonna go" in season 2, we were eager to find out what he meant. Now that the trailer is out, we know that the second season of one of the best shows on Amazon Prime is not only taking us to New Vegas, but is going to give us the tragic backstory behind the Ghoul...who was once famous Hollywood actor Cooper Howard.
To help ramp up excitement, we've put together a complete guide to all the post-apocalyptic action coming up in Fallout season 2 right here. That includes the new release window, a list of all the confirmed cast members, a poster, everything we know about the plot so far, and a season 1 recap. So, without further ado, keep reading for the lowdown on the return of one of the best new TV shows.
Fallout season 2 release date
The Fallout season 2 release date is December 17, 2025.
The new episodes wrapped filming in early May 2025, with the team sharing a video of Ghoul actor Walton Goggins ripping off the facial prosthetics for his makeup in slow motion (you can see the video in the post below).
Achievement unlocked! Fallout Season 2 has wrapped production. pic.twitter.com/cbLNCvLLRBMay 8, 2025
Fallout season 2 cast
At the moment, the Fallout cast names that we know for certain are coming back are the main trio: the Ghoul, Lucy, and Maximus. We also know that Macaulay Culkin will be joining the cast as a recurring character in the next season.
We don't have a name just yet for Culkin's character, but Deadline has reported that he'll be a "crazy genius-type character." Leslie Uggams is also returning as overseer Betty, with the actor saying her Vault-Dweller has something "up her sleeve" for the new season.
And although some names haven't been confirmed fully yet, we're pretty sure that all of the major players (who survived season 1, at least) will be back as well.
Here's the expected Fallout season 2 cast list so far:
- Ella Purnell – Lucy MacLean
- Walton Goggins – The Ghoul / Cooper Howard
- Aaron Moten – Maximus
- Kyle MacLachlan – Hank MacLean
- Moisés Arias – Norm MacLean
- Sarita Choudhury – Moldaver
- Frances Turner – Barb
- Leslie Uggams – Betty
- Macaulay Culkin – TBC
There's also been talk of Mr. House, the founder of RoboCo, played by Anthony Misiano, returning for 'more episodes' (via Variety).
Not only that, but another actor could make a debut in season 2: Aaron Paul. According to Jonathan Nolan, he's very keen to star.
Finally, some leaked set photos hint that Caesar's Legion may appear in the next season. If that's the case, we may see Caesar (aka Edward Sallow) added as a new character in season 2. However, this addition hasn't been confirmed, and no stars have hinted at their potential casting just yet.
Leaked set photos at Los Angeles from r/fnv
Only time will tell if Aaron Paul manages to join the Fallout season 2 crew or if we get a Caesar. So, keep your eyes on this page as more casting details come our way.
Fallout season 2 trailer
The first trailer, which you can view below, dropped Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025 on August 19. In the clip, Lucy (Ella Purnell) asks why her (evil) father (Kyle MacLachlan) would run to Las Vegas, leading the Ghoul (Walton Goggins) to explain that this is where the nuclear disaster began. We immediately flashback to his days as successful actor Cooper Howard, with a few quick scenes depicting glamorous, pre-war Vegas. There's plenty of gunfire, explosions, a Deathclaw, and the evil Mr. House. The most exciting part, though, is knowing that this season will delve into the Ghoul's tragic backstory.
What happened at the end of Fallout season 1?
The season finale of Fallout season 1 (which you can read more about in our Fallout season 1 ending explained guide) left out lots of open plot points for all of the major characters. The final episode all comes down to a stand-off at the Observatory, where Lucy finally meets Moldaver and finds her dad.
However, Hank has not been entirely truthful. He was actually a member of Vault-Tec's management team 200 years prior. As Norm found out elsewhere in the episode, Vaults 32 and 33 have been home to the generation of super managers known as Bud's Buds.
That's not all, either, as Lucy's mother didn't die in the way they had always been told. She had figured out that civilization was living on the surface and tried to take her children there to Shady Sands. Hank found her and burned it to the ground, leaving Lucy's mom as a ghoul-like creature.
Elsewhere, Maximus is now seen as the Brotherhood's "sword". He turns up at the Observatory, planning to free Hank and help Lucy. However, Hank escapes in the Brotherhood's power armour after the Ghoul confronts him about what happened to his family.
In the final moments, Lucy is given a choice: stay with Maximus as he wages a war for the Brotherhood or join the Ghoul to find out who is "behind the wheel".
She chooses the latter, shooting her mom dead and leaving Maximus behind. When Maximus wakes up, he's now got the cold fusion device and is declared a knight.
That's not all, either, as we see Hank walking towards a very familiar location for fans of the games: New Vegas.
What will happen in Fallout season 2?
Nothing official has been confirmed about the Fallout season 2 plot just yet. However, that doesn't mean we don't have a pretty good idea about what's coming next.
First of all, it seems clear that the Ghoul and Lucy will head out in search of more Vault-Tec members, including Barb (the Ghoul's ex-wife, who we've only seen so far in flashbacks).
This will likely put them on the way to New Vegas and the Mojave Wasteland, which will be a big location going forward. It's not yet clear how closely the show will stick to the lore of the best Fallout games with that one, but expect a brutal and war-torn place.
We've also seen some unconfirmed set photos featuring Caesar's Legion (a major faction in New Vegas), so if the plot does stick to the games, we may get to see the NCR forces (New California Republic) and some tension around control of the Hoover Dam. Exciting times.
Then there's the Brotherhood, who are now in the best position they've been in years, thanks to having the cold fusion device. It's supposedly got "limitless power," and it will be interesting to see if Maximus uses it for good or not...
What have the creators and cast said about Fallout season 2?
They've been pretty tight-lipped on what to expect next in Fallout season 2, but we have had some clues from the cast and creators.
First of all, co-showrunner Graham Wagner has teased the introduction of a major creature in season 2 after showing their skull in the season 1 finale.
"We wanted to get Deathclaws, but we didn’t want to just throw it away. It’s such a monumental piece," he told The Wrap.
"We want to save something for Season 2 to be able to do it properly, not just add on to the massive world-building we had to do already in Season 1. So, Season 2, we’re very excited to finally tackle one of the most iconic elements of the games."
In addition to Deathclaws, executive producer Jonathan Nolan promised more of, well, everything in a separate interview with The Wrap. "There are more monsters, more environments, more factions that we are currently designing and building right now to begin production quite soon. So we’re really excited."
Lucy star Ella Purnell also opened up to GQ about how her character will be very different after the season 2 finale. "I want the audience at the end of the show to wonder if their hero is still a good person," she said.
"I don't know who she's gonna be in season two, [but] this is what happens when you break the unbreakable. I don't know who she's about to become."
Meanwhile, Moldaver star Sarita Choudhury spoke to GamesRadar+ about her hopes for what will happen next and, in particular, how her character survived for 200 years.
"Part of me knows a lot, and purposely in the season, you see, and you get what you get. But I would ask the same question," she says.
"I know a bit and I can't share it, but I also don't know a lot. But it's also what I loved, because you're like, 'Wait a minute, I want to know from when the bomb fell [what life was like] day by day, and then for 200 years. Because she didn't have access to what the Vault dwellers had. I need it to be revealed. You know what I mean?"
Will there be a Fallout season 3?
Yes, there will be a Fallout season 3! The news was confirmed before season 2 has even premiered. That means we have plenty more time with Lucy and the gang.
For more on Fallout, you can read our Fallout Season 1 review. Or, if you are a gamer, we also have a guide on everything that you need to know about Fallout 5.
