Justin Theroux joins the star-studded cast of Fallout Season 2, taking on the iconic role of Robert House. The season premiere delves into Mr. House's past, revealing a manipulative and villainous side to the legendary New Vegas character, a stark contrast to the glimpse viewers had in Season 1.

Theroux's portrayal highlights House's morally questionable nature, exemplified by an early scene where he uses a device to control a man, forcing him to kill his own friends. Despite this depiction, Theroux emphasizes that in playing any character, he avoids outright judgment, opting to explore their motivations. He notes that powerful figures, like the billionaire types House represents, often see themselves as striving for the betterment of humanity, even if their methods are cold and self-serving.

The actor believes House's immense wealth and position have made him morally ambiguous. While acknowledging that from an outside perspective House is a villain, Theroux found the intrigue in understanding House's internal drive: a desire to advance humanity through technology. This aligns with the 'shake the etch-a-sketch' ideology introduced in Season 1, focusing on saving those deemed 'worthy' to create a new utopia, a theme often seen in various ideologies and historical contexts.

When considering any redemptive qualities, Theroux states there isn't much that makes House particularly human. He views House as 'transactional,' driven by his technological creations as if they were his children, which often comes at the expense of developing interpersonal relationships. The challenge for Theroux was to make House sympathetic to himself, allowing him to 'fall in love' with his technology and its perceived benefits for the human race, despite the incredibly cold approach.

For inspiration, Theroux looked beyond contemporary billionaires, drawing heavily from the historical figure Howard Hughes. He noted that individuals with extreme wealth, who can't possibly spend it all, often invest in eccentric and sometimes impractical ideas. Hughes, who famously attempted to build an impossibly large plane, served as a blueprint for House's tendency to let curiosity about technology outweigh its practical benefits or potential harm to humanity. This 'rarefied air' can lead such individuals to stop feeling resistance to their ideas and actions, believing they can circumvent any situation. The looks and biographical aspects of Hughes also influenced Theroux's interpretation of the character.

Fallout Season 2 promises a deeper exploration of Robert House's complex and morally ambiguous character, with new episodes releasing weekly on Prime Video.