Fallout: Lanius fan-film announced

An Australian filmmaker has announced a new project: a live-action Fallout-themed fan-flick dubbed Fallout: Lanius.

Set in the Fallout: New Vegas universe, the film is to look at the origins of Legate Lanius, the primary antagonist of the game and driving force behind the Roman-themed slaver group Caesar's Legion.

'On the brink of ruin, the Hidebark people are about to be wiped out by the slaving organisation Caesar's Legion,' filmmaker Wade Savage explains in a brief plot synopsis. 'However, their most ruthless warrior would prefer death to dishonour. "Fallout: Lanius" will recount how a single man brings ruin to his people due to his lust for bloodshed and victory.'

To get fans of the game excited Savage has announced Mitch Lewis, voice actor for the character of Legate Lanius in the game, will be reprising his role for the live-action fan film. What he hasn't announced, however, is whether Bethesda Softworks is on-side - and, given that the company owns all rights to the Fallout universe bar a rumoured massively multi-player project, that's something he's going to have to address sooner rather than later.

Savage could pull it off, though. While lacking in big-budget experience, Savage's 2010 short The Dead Wastes won the Night of Horror International Film Festival's Independent Spirit award, while his most recent work Hunt was screened at the Bram Stoker International Film Festival.

With no experience in fan films, however, Savage could struggle to get the funding he needs for the project - even assuming Bethesda doesn't unleash the lawyers. To counteract a potential lack of large-scale investment, Savage has indicated that he is to launch a crowd-funding campaign towards the middle of the year.