The highly anticipated second season of Prime Video's hit series Fallout has delivered a major surprise for fans, with former child star Macaulay Culkin making his debut in the post-apocalyptic drama. The actor, best known for Home Alone, appeared in the third episode of the new season, which began its weekly release on December 17.
Who Does Macaulay Culkin Play in Fallout?
As of the third episode, which aired on December 31, the identity of Culkin's character remains shrouded in mystery. The show has deliberately withheld his name, leaving viewers to speculate about his significance in the sprawling narrative set in the new location of New Vegas.
Unlike other actors, such as Kumail Nanjiani who plays the clearly named Paladin Harkness, Culkin's role is currently listed as unknown. Even Prime Video's X-ray feature, which pulls data from IMDB to identify actors and characters on screen, shows a blank when he appears. This suggests his true identity may be a closely guarded secret, potentially not revealed until the season finale.
Fan theories are already circulating, with one popular guess being that he is playing a character named Brutus, a figure who famously assassinated Julius Caesar. This theory is bolstered by his prominent position within the episode's new major faction.
The Legion's Arrival and Internal Conflict
Culkin's character is a high-ranking member of The Legion, a formidable and brutal faction imported directly from the beloved video game Fallout: New Vegas. In the series, the group is simply called The Legion, a possible nod to a critical power vacuum at its core.
The faction is an imperialistic, slaver society modelled loosely on the ancient Roman Empire, adopting its aesthetics and even the historically accurate Latin pronunciation of 'Caesar' as 'Kaizar'. Their ultimate goal, as in the games, was to conquer the New California Republic (NCR).
However, the show finds The Legion in a state of crisis. Following Caesar's death, a succession dispute has erupted because his chosen successor, named on a piece of paper, has not been revealed. This has split the faction, pushing it to the verge of civil war—a fate predicted by many characters in the original game should their leader fall.
What This Means for Fallout's Future
The introduction of The Legion and a mysterious star like Macaulay Culkin significantly expands the show's world. It confirms the series' deep commitment to adapting elements from Fallout: New Vegas, much to the delight of dedicated fans.
The strategic casting of Culkin, whose character stands at the right hand of the contesting Caesars and acts as their spokesman, indicates he will play a pivotal role in the faction's internal struggle. His unknown name adds a layer of intrigue that will drive speculation and discussion throughout the season's remaining episodes.
All episodes of Fallout are available for streaming exclusively on Prime Video. The weekly release of season two continues, with new instalments promising to unravel more of the mysteries introduced in the wasteland of New Vegas.
