It’s official: Games Workshop and Amazon have finalized their deal for Henry Cavill's Warhammer 40,000 Cinematic Universe.
In December 2023, Games Workshop said it would work with Amazon for a period of 12 months ending 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.”
Now, just in the nick of time, Games Workshop has issued what it called a “major” update on ‘Amazon Studios Warhammer stories,’ confirming the deal got across the finish line and those creative guidelines have been agreed.
“It’s official - Games Workshop and Amazon Studios have finalized their deal - the creative guidelines are nailed down, and we’re all set to bring Warhammer to the screen,” Games Workshop said. It's worth noting that under the terms of the agreement, Amazon has the option to license equivalent rights in the Warhammer Fantasy universe following the release of any initial Warhammer 40,000 production.
As for now, a synopsis and ordering for the stories set to be told in Amazon’s Warhammer 40,000 films and television series is now in place. “It might have taken a year but it was a year well spent!” Games Workshop said. “And what fun - sifting through the enormity of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, debating characters, story arcs and the thematic grit that underpins it all.”
Project One is about to go into development proper, Games Workshop said, with a script yet to be written. But don’t hold your breath: Games Workshop warned “it’ll be some years” before the first project hits screens.
“Of course, as with all carefully crafted things, this all takes time... and trust us when we say, everyone involved is las-focused on getting it all just right,” the company continues.
Superman actor and Warhammer 40,000 superfan Henry Cavill is set to star in and executive produce the Warhammer 40,000 franchise across all Amazon Studios productions. Ceberating the news, Cavill issued a statement on Instagram.
"My incredible team and I, alongside the brilliant minds at Games Workshop, have been working away in concept rooms, breaking down approaches to the enormity and magnificence of the Warhammer world," Cavill said.
"Together, we've been sifting through the plethora of incredible characters and poring over old tomes and texts. Our combined efforts have led us to a fantastic place to start our Universe, which has been agreed upon by those up on high at both Amazon and Games Workshop. That starting place shall, for now, remain a secret. Watch this space, though — more to come in time!"
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.
While we wait to find out, there’s always Saber Interactive’s Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 to play, and Amazon’s Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 animation to watch as part of the just-released Secret Level anthology series.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
