Former Bethesda designer Bruce Nesmith, who served as lead designer on The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, has voiced strong doubts about the viability of a TV adaptation for the long-running fantasy franchise, citing its familiar tropes in an oversaturated genre.
In the wake of the successful Fallout TV series, which has captivated audiences and boosted interest in Bethesda's post-apocalyptic gaming universe, discussions have emerged about potential adaptations of the studio's other flagship franchise, The Elder Scrolls. However, Nesmith has expressed skepticism about translating the epic fantasy world of Tamriel to the small screen, highlighting key differences between the two series that could hinder such a project.
In a recent talk with Press Box PR, Nesmith pointed out that there is "something very special and different" about Fallout that lends itself well to television adaptation. In contrast, he described The Elder Scrolls as a "standard kind of fantasy" narrative, one that has been explored extensively in media over the years.
Elaborating on this, Nesmith argued that the oversaturation of similar fantasy tropes could make an Elder Scrolls show less appealing. "That's not as interesting, not in this day and age where you already have The Lord Of The Rings movies. We've got Game Of Thrones. You'd have to try to find something to lean into that would be special about it," he explained. This perspective underscores the challenge of differentiating The Elder Scrolls from established hits like Peter Jackson's epic film trilogy or HBO's sprawling political drama, both of which have set high bars for fantasy storytelling on screen.
On the flip side, Nesmith emphasized the uniqueness of Fallout's setting as a major advantage. He stated that "everything is special" about the Fallout universe, adding, "There is nothing like the Fallout universe anywhere else in gaming. It's very unique. That makes it easy to make a TV show and draw eyeballs as opposed to going into a fantasy world where I've got elves and people throwing spells around." This distinctiveness, blending retro-futurism, nuclear apocalypse, and satirical elements, allows Fallout to stand out without relying on familiar fantasy staples.
Nesmith further illustrated the potential pitfalls by questioning the novelty of common Elder Scrolls elements in a TV format. "You'd have to raise those stakes. There's a dragon? I've seen dragons 20 times before. What are you giving to viewers that's new?" he said. Such comments highlight the risk of audience fatigue with dragons, magic, and mythical creatures, which have become commonplace in modern entertainment from series like The Witcher to films such as Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
While Nesmith acknowledged that an Elder Scrolls movie might have more potential, he admitted he would "struggle" to envision a TV show achieving similar success to Fallout. Beyond creative hurdles, he touched on the business side, noting that Bethesda doesn't reap massive direct profits from the Fallout adaptation. The studio receives a license fee, but Nesmith dismissed it as "peanuts" compared to the broader financial picture. Instead, the real value lies in heightened awareness and sales for the games themselves.
Given The Elder Scrolls' already enormous popularity—with titles like Skyrim remaining cultural phenomena years after release—Nesmith questioned the necessity of a TV tie-in for promotional purposes. "Do they really need marketing for Elder Scrolls 6?" he asked, suggesting that the franchise's built-in fanbase might not require the additional boost that Fallout has benefited from.
Bethesda's leadership has offered mixed signals on the idea in the past. Studio head Todd Howard mentioned last year that an Elder Scrolls TV show was possible, though he had previously advised fans not to hold out hope. As Bethesda continues to develop The Elder Scrolls 6, which remains in production without a firm release date, the debate over expanding the series into other media persists. The fantasy genre's competitive landscape, filled with ongoing projects like Amazon's The Rings of Power and various Game of Thrones spin-offs, adds another layer of complexity to any potential adaptation.
As for the Fallout TV show, the second season wraps up on February 3. A third season has been confirmed, in addition to a new reality competition TV show. These developments signal continued investment in the Fallout brand, potentially setting a model for how Bethesda approaches future cross-media ventures.
