‘Fallout’ Sets Emmys Campaign: Walton Goggins and Ella Purnell Go for Lead Drama, Aaron Moten Submits for Supporting (EXCLUSIVE)

Prime Video’s “Fallout,” inspired by the video game series, is launching an awards campaign ahead of this year’s Emmys, with the streamer eyeing nominations for outstanding drama series among others. Variety has exclusively learned the Emmy campaign strategies for its main actors: Walton Goggins, Ella Purnell and Aaron Moten.

Goggins, portraying the mutated gunslinger Cooper Howard, aka The Ghoul, and Purnell, playing young Vault Dweller Lucy, are both in the running for lead acting categories. Moten, who plays Maximus, the Brotherhood of Steel’s squire, aims for a supporting actor nod.

Set in an alternate history post-apocalyptic Earth, “Fallout” depicts the lives of survivors in Vaults, designed to preserve humanity following nuclear catastrophe. More than two centuries later, a young woman Lucy emerges from Vault 33 to explore a devastated Los Angeles.

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Read: All Primetime Emmy predictions in every category on Variety’s Awards Circuit.

Director Jonathan Nolan (brother of recent best director Oscar winner Christopher Nolan for “Oppenheimer”), intends to submit the pilot episode titled, “The End,” for Emmy consideration, which will also be the submission for writers Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner.

It’s been over a decade since Goggins, known for his role in “Justified,” last received an Emmy nomination in 2011. He’ll find himself up against seasoned actors like Gary Oldman (“Slow Horses”) and his Prime Video counterpart Donald Glover (“Mr. & Mrs. Smith”) this year. Purnell, best known for her role in Showtime’s “Yellowjackets,” faces stiff competition in the lead actress category alongside Jennifer Aniston and Emma Stone. Still, Purnell could end up at the ceremony, especially coming after Bella Ramsey, another young actor, landed a deserved nom for fellow video game adaptation “The Last of Us.”

Moten has been a rising star with roles in HBO’s “The Night Of,” Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle” and most notably Netflix’s “Disjointed.” The supporting drama actor race is overflowing with multiple men from the same series including “The Morning Show” and “The Crown.” While campaigning alongside Moisés Arias, who plays Lucy’s brother Norm, the risk of vote-splitting isn’t as prevalent as it is with other contenders.

As Hank, Lucy’s father and Overseer of Vault 33, two-time Emmy nominee Kyle MacLachlan (“Twin Peaks”) will be submitted in guest drama actor alongside Michael Emerson. Veteran actress Dale Dickey, as Ma June, will shoot her shot in guest drama actress.

With a 92% Rotten Tomatoes rating, “Fallout” is well-received and could mimic the Emmy success of “The Last of Us.” Aramide Tinubu of Variety praised the show for its unique approach and engaging narrative stating: “Nolan and Joy wisely chose to avoid a straight adaptation. Instead, they constructed an original story within the game universe. Moreover, unexpected stylistic choices, including archaic technology, a soundtrack full of hits from Ella Fitzgerald and Bing Crosby and odd mid-20th century dialogue, contrast against disturbingly vicious deaths, making ‘Fallout’ a sensory-fueled feast.”

The eight episodes of “Fallout” premiere on April 11 on Prime Video. The full list of 27 submissions are below. Categories are subject to change, and actors and artisans have the option to submit themselves for consideration. Famously, “Game of Thrones” actors Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy), Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth), and Carice Van Houten (Melisandre) submitted themselves for the final season of the HBO fantasy series, and were subsequently all nominated in their respective categories.