Games Workshop has reiterated that Amazon’s hotly anticipated Warhammer 40,000 film and TV series will not happen unless both companies can agree “creative guidelines” by December 2024.
Speaking in its annual financial report, Games Workshop discussed the deal that granted exclusive rights to Amazon films and television series set within the Warhammer 40,000 universe, with an option for Amazon to license equivalent rights in the Warhammer Fantasy universe following the release of the initial Warhammer 40,000 production.
In December 2023, Games Workshop said it would work with Amazon for a period of 12 months ending in December 2024, “to agree creative guidelines for the films and television series to be developed by Amazon.” And that agreement “will only proceed if the creative guidelines are mutually agreed between Games Workshop and Amazon.”
“We will update you accordingly,” Games Workshop said, like a Space Marine might tell a Guardsman anxious about a coming battle.
That means Games Workshop and Amazon have just five months to sort themselves out, or the Warhammer 40,000 movie and TV series fans of the grimdark universe so desperately want might never happen.
If the Warhammer 40,000 Amazon projects move forward, Superman actor and Warhammer 40,000 superfan Henry Cavill will be involved. The Hollywood actor is set to star in and executive produce the Warhammer 40,000 franchise across all Amazon Studios productions.
While concrete details on shows and films are likely a way off, Cavill nonetheless sounded excited to be bringing the grimdark universe to life. “I have loved Warhammer since I was boy, making this moment truly special for me. The opportunity to shepherd this cinematic universe from its inception is quite the honor and the responsibility,” said Cavill. “I couldn’t be more grateful for all the hard work put in by Vertigo, Amazon and Games Workshop to make this happen. One step closer to making a nigh-on lifelong dream come true.”
In February, Cavill touched again on the Warhammer 40,000 Amazon project, saying: "It is the greatest privilege of my professional career to have this opportunity. I can’t say too much, again, it’s early days still. But to have this opportunity to bring it to screen, and be at the tiller so it can be faithful, is key to me.
“This is the stuff I’ve been dealing with since I was a kid. This is the stuff I spend my free time daydreaming about, as an adult as well, and I get to bring it into life. There is no greater reason than I joined the industry than doing something like this.”
Warhammer 40,000 is Games Workshop’s science fiction universe used as the setting for its hugely popular tabletop wargame starring the iconic Space Marines. It’s a grimdark universe in which humanity clings on to survival in the face of terrifying threats within and without the fascist Imperium.
Who might Cavill play across the Warhammer 40,000 Cinematic Universe? Talking to IGN in 2021, Cavill expressed interest in playing one of the Primarchs or Captain-Generals, who are high-ranking key characters from the Warhammer lore.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
