‘Fallout’ filming post-apocalyptic drama in downtown Pomona, fans say

Seen in downtown Pomona: an American post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Eager fans of the Amazon Prime Video dystopian sci-fi show “Fallout” have been flocking to downtown Pomona the past few days to see what they believe is the film set — and some actors or stunt doubles  — portraying characters from the popular series, according to multiple social media posts and threads.

The show’s upcoming third season is apparently being filmed inside and around Pomona’s legendary art-deco-style Fox Theater, which opened in the 1930s, according to fans’ posts.

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, some set pieces and elements were being taken down.

Pomona city officials and representatives from the Downtown Pomona Owners Association could not be reached to confirm what’s being filmed or for how long.

However, a Friday, Aug. 7, Instagram post from the Downtown Pomona District confirmed that several street and sidewalks would be closed from Saturday, Aug. 8, until Monday, Aug. 17, “while filming takes place in downtown Pomona.” The post added that parking is available in nearby lots but is limited.

Over the past few days, the downtown Pomona film set included rubble from destroyed buildings, hollowed-out cars and a bus, torn-up posters and signs, and fake snow on the ground, apparently to resemble the show’s setting of Salt Lake City. The Fox Theater’s sign was transformed to read “Salt Lake Sinema,” representing a Salt Lake City theater. Some streets outside were closed and blocked off to viewers gathering outside.

The TV show — based on a popular role-playing video game franchise — follows a derelict, wasteland U.S. set two centuries after a war, in which society has collapsed after a nuclear holocaust. It’s the story of “haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have,” according to Prime Video’s description of the show.

Two-hundred years after the apocalypse, “the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the incredibly complex, gleefully weird and highly violent universe waiting for them above,” a show summary states. The citizens living in underground bunkers — fallout shelters, or vaults — must protect themselves from mutants, bandits, and radiation.

The show stars Ella Purnell, Walton Goggins — who some social media posts say was on the Pomona set — Aaron Moten, Kyle MacLachlan and Moisés Arias.

Some fans of both the show and video game — even one in a full riot gear/gas mask costume — went to downtown Pomona after seeing the posts online and on YouTube.

“Heard they are filming season 3 over in Pomona, and as a big fan I had to come down,” fan Timothy Tsui wrote on Instagram after his visit.

“It’s cool when you see it all set up like this — supposed to be like Utah,” William Hernandez said.

Downtown Pomona resident Stephanie Alvarado arrived Monday, Aug. 10, to see the “ruined wasteland” set.

“I saw the posts on Instagram and had to see it myself — it’s a big production,” she said. “We don’t get a whole lot of (films and TV shows) here.”

Alvarado, a local actor, said she wished she could be an extra for the show.

“It’s pretty cool to see this big of a project.”

Filming will continue through Monday, Aug. 17, so drivers should watch for production crews, street closures and delays, several social media posts said. Signs outside the theater and a post from the Downtown Pomona District said businesses surrounding the Fox remain open.