Henry Cavill's Warhammer 40,000 Update Finally Clarifies Franchise's Future
We’ve been waiting, barely keeping our faith alive, but the dawn is finally here: Henry Cavill hit us with a long-anticipated update about his Warhammer 40K adaptation.
Summary:
- Over a year ago, Games Workshop signed the first agreement with Amazon to develop a Warhammer 40K live-action.
- On December 18, 2023, Games Workshop announced that the last contract had been signed and the work could begin.
- Henry Cavill will act as an executive producer and a lead actor, though his exact role remains unknown.
Warhammer 40,000 is undoubtedly the most popular grimdark sci-fi franchise ever — and one of the most famous tabletop game settings out there, as well. With numerous video games and countless novels to its name, Warhammer 40K has been feeling reasonably well over the past decades… But it could feel even better.
It’s been quite a while since we’ve last heard anything substantial from the long-anticipated Warhammer 40K live-action adaptation led by Henry Cavill. For a few years, The Witcher star’s prominent position in the project has been the only bit of information we had — but now, it has changed. For now, we have actual news!
What’s the News on Cavill’s Warhammer 40K Project?
It’s been well over a year since Games Workshop, the rightsholders of the Warhammer franchise, announced that they’d signed an initial agreement with Amazon, cementing the latter’s status as the company to work on live adaptations.
On December 18, Games Workshop broke the delightful news: apparently, they’d signed all the contracts with Amazon, so the live-action version of Warhammer 40K could then finally get in motion! Now, the companies will work out which parts of the franchise to adapt first, and whether to make them into a movie or a TV show.
“An elite band of screenwriters, each with their own particular passion for Warhammer, is being assembled to help bring the setting and characters you love to the screen. This illustrious group will be championed by Henry Cavill, who stands ready to take his place as executive producer – bringing his pen, sword, and/or spear to the project,” the blog post from Games Workshop read.
In conclusion, the company representatives pointed out that it would be unwise to expect the first project — whatever it may be — to be finished sooner than in a few years. Still, they promised to keep fans posted for any updates since “things are now properly rolling.” This phrase alone is enough to get us excited about the future!
However dark it is in the Warhammer 40K universe.
What’s Henry Cavill’s Role in Warhammer 40K Live-Action?
As previously mentioned, Henry Cavill will not only star in the new Warhammer projects but also serve as an executive producer for them. The actor’s been a huge fan of this universe since he was a kid, and his love for Warhammer 40K hasn’t weakened over the years, so we expect him to make his projects truly special.
When it comes to the character Cavill will portray, several options seem like natural fits for him. Most obviously, the actor could go for the God-Emperor, Roboute Guilliman, or Ciaphas Cain. These three would be the most prominent roles in the setting, allowing Henry Cavill to be in the epicenter of the most meaningful events.
Realistically, the exact character the actor gets to portray doesn’t matter as much. Henry Cavill is in love with the Warhammer 40K universe, and as a great actor and an executive producer, he will get to showcase this franchise in the best light — the chance he was robbed of when starring in his other favorite franchise, The Witcher.
What Do Fans Say After the Warhammer 40K News?
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The Warhammer 40K fan base is in a state of amazed disbelief: for how large and popular the franchise is, not having actual live-action adaptations was shameful. Fans praise Henry Cavill’s most direct involvement in production, too, seeing that the actor is a diehard fan, meaning that the franchise won’t be butchered by managers.
Still, fans wanted to warn Games Workshop and Amazon about possible mistakes.
“Please don’t try to tell every story at once. The world is vast. Focus on making the characters understandable and plan for massive success over the years. Start with something simple. Follow a Cadian guard regiment or a squad of Space Marines. Don’t fall into the trap of smashing the Cadian Gate, the Battle for Macceage, and the breaking of a craft world into one two-hour movie,” John H. Friez wrote.
Others saw some dangerous parallels with another popular sci-fi’s sad story.
“I have wanted to watch 40K films ever since I started playing 40K as a kid in the 90s, so I am cautiously very excited about this. But please, please, please make sure that the films and television shows are grimdark and cool. <...> Please don't let Amazon ruin Warhammer 40K the same way that Disney ruined Star Wars, ” Daniel Morgan added.
Other than that, fans seem to have complete faith if not in Amazon, then in Henry Cavill as their fellow Warhammer 40K connoisseur — if he has actual creative control and not the notorious “creative input,” of course. But one question remains pretty divisive for the fans: should a TV show or an actual movie be created first?