Ron Perlman's presence among the Fallout season 2 cast was exciting for two reasons. The first was the presence of Ron Perlman himself — who wouldn't be excited by that? The second, admittedly more esoteric reason, is what Perlman's character represents when it comes to the show's sprawling canon. Although he wasn't given much to do during Episode 6, "The Other Player," Fallout showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet has now confirmed that Perlman's brief cameo isn't intended to be where his character's journey ends.
Speaking with The Direct, Robertson-Dworet explained that she has "always seen that as a big role," and that she's hopeful that she'll get the chance to pay off Perlman's brief connection to Fallout season 2 as the show continues. Thankfully, with Fallout season 3 already announced, this is a wish that seems attainable. Although Perlman's unnamed super mutant had a confusingly vague role in season 2, that only makes the thought of his return even more intriguing.
Why Ron Perlman's expected Fallout return is significant
As already mentioned, Perlman's character has a limited role in Fallout season 2, but the cryptic exchange he has with the Ghoul (Walton Goggins) opens up all kinds of narrative avenues for the show's writers to explore. As Robertson-Dworet said in the same interview with The Direct, the unnamed super mutant serves as a way of "hinting at larger wars" within the Fallout universe, away from the core storylines of the Amazon show. (Ron Perlman spinoff, anyone?)
Furthermore, Perlman's character is important for reasons concerning the show's canonical connection to the Bethesda Fallout games. Set within the same shared universe, anything that happens in either project has a direct impact on the other. So, although Perlman isn't the franchise's first super mutant, he is the first one to appear in live-action, away from the games.
It's already been established by Bethesda that super mutants come from being exposed to something called the FEV, or Forced Evolutionary Virus. With this piece of lore now also introduced in Fallout season 2, it seems that the show is getting around to addressing the super mutants more thoroughly, and Perlman's character could be central to all that. Plus, with the Ghoul headed to Colorado, wherever the super mutant's war is based means the scope of the Fallout show going forward could be about to balloon.
Fallout seasons 1 & 2 are streaming now on Prime Video. Season 3 has been confirmed, but has no release date yet.