A new rumor cropped up claiming that Henry Cavill’s Warhammer 40,000 live-action project at Amazon MGM Studios is “definitely not dead.”
A screenshot from Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (2024), Focus Entertainment
YouTuber Mr. H Reviews responded to a recent rumor from fellow YouTuber Arch claiming that both Games Workshop and Amazon were “entirely content” to let the project die.
At the end of September, Arch claimed, “It has been complete radio silence on the matter of the TV show ever since we had the last update the last time around. It appears as if both Amazon and Games Workshop are entirely content to just let the project die, honestly.”
He added, “Even with a 1-month extension into January nothing seems to have been produced. Still no money is allocated. Still no accounts have been created. Still no contracts have been signed etc, etc…”
As for why there is current radio silence and no movement, Arch shared, “It may be that Games Workshop got a little bit uppity and decided to demand that their own authors be allowed to create the screenplay.”
“Again, the Black Library authors are excellent book writers, but they have no business writing screenplays and Amazon probably knows that and Amazon probably knows it can’t really afford another big flop here,” he added.
Arch then concluded, “Right now, I would say that the probabilities lean more towards the entire thing being dead than it ever being green lit.”
Enola Holmes 2. Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes. Cr. Alex Bailey/Netflix © 2022
YouTuber Mr H Reviews responded to this rumor and shared some of his own inside knowledge on the matter and claimed that the live-action project is “definitely not dead.”
Speaking specifically to Arch’s conclusion that “the probabilities lean more towards the entire thing being dead than it ever being green lit,” Mr. H Reviews stated, “I can say it’s actually the inverse of that.”
He later stated, “There’s definitely been movement on it. Definitively movement like 100%. My eyes and ears say that there’s definitely been some movement. Can’t tell you exactly what or how much, but it’s the complete opposite of what Arch is rumoring anyway. It’s the complete opposite of that.”
“It’s definitely not dead, guys,” he added. “It’s definitely not dead.”
He concluded saying, “I can say with certainty there’s been movement and it’s the contrary to what Arch is saying here.”
Henry Cavill as the Cavillrine in Deadpool and Wolverine (2024), Marvel Studios
Games Workshop previously revealed in its Annual Report that the two companies still had not come together to agree on creative guidelines for the films and television series and that the deadline to come to such an agreement was the end of December 2024.
The Annual Report stated, “Games Workshop and Amazon are working together for a period of 12 months, ending in December 2024, to agree [to] creative guidelines for the films and television series to be developed by Amazon. The agreement will only proceed if the creative guidelines are mutually agreed between Games Workshop and Amazon. We will update you accordingly.”
The report also detailed that if things do go well, Amazon has the rights to develop Warhammer Fantasy as well. It states, “Under the terms of the agreement, Games Workshop has granted exclusive rights to Amazon in relation to films and television series set within the Warhammer 40,000 universe, together with an option for Amazon to license equivalent rights in the Warhammer Fantasy universe following the release of the initial Warhammer 40,000 production.”
Space Marine units from Warhammer 40,000
However, Games Workshop had previously shared in a blog post in the middle of December 2023 that the company had come to terms with Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios to have an adaptation of Warhammer 40k brought to both the big and small screens.
The company shared, “Back in December last year we announced Games Workshop and Amazon Studios had signed an agreement in principle to work together to bring the Warhammer 40,000 universe to screens, big and small.”
It added, “Well, today we have an update, and it’s one we’ve all been longing to hear. We’ve now signed the full agreement and the next stage can begin!”
A screenshot from Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II: Retribution (2011), Relic Entertainment
The company also shared, “All we can tell you right now is that 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.”
As for when the first project might arrive, Games Workshop detailed, “TV and Film production is a mammoth undertaking. It’s not unusual for projects to take two to three years from this point before something arrives on screen. Still, things are now properly rolling, and you can bet we’ll bring you all the latest updates and cool snippets as soon as we’re able.”
A screenshot from Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Anniversary Edition (2011), Relic Entertainment
READ: Warhammer Hobbyists Mock Games Workshop For Scrapping Their Lore And Making Female Adeptus Custodes
Henry Cavill announced he was helming the Warhammer cinematic universe shortly after he announced he would not be returning to play Superman in James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy.
He shared to Instagram in December 2022, “For 30 years I have dreamt of seeing a Warhammer universe in live action. Now, after 22 years of experience in this industry, I finally feel that I have the skill set and experience to guide a Warhammer Cinematic Universe into life. Partnering with Natalie Viscuso at Vertigo has been a blessing beyond words, without her we might not have found the perfect home at Amazon. And having a home like Amazon will give us the freedom to be true to the massive scope of Warhammer. To all of you Warhammer fans out there, I promise to respect this IP that we love. I promise to bring you something familiar. And I endeavour to bring you something fantastic that is, as of yet, unseen.”
He added, “Our first steps are to find our Filmmaker/Creator/Writer. Watch this space, my friends.”
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Since then he’s provided brief updates on the projects. In February, while promoting Argylle he told the Happy Sad Confused podcast, “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 the screen and be at the tiller so it can be faithful is key.”
He continued, “This is the stuff I’ve been dealing with since I was a kid. This is sort of is the stuff I spend my free time daydreaming about. As an adult as well. And I get to bring it into life, and there is no greater reason than I join the industry than doing something like and I’m very happy to be here.”
READ: New Stormcast Eternals Character For Warhammer: Age of Sigmar Uses “They/Their/Them” Pronouns
He also teased he might team-up with director Matthew Vaughn when host Josh Horowitz asked, “Have you tried to get Matthew into Warhammer or gaming at all?”
Cavill responded, “No, not yet.” However, Vaughn retorted, “Gaming? I love gaming. What do you mean gaming at all? But we’ve spoken.” Cavill added, “Yeah.”
Vaughn continued, “Yeah, listen, I said I’d work with Henry in lots of different ways.” Cavill concluded with a grin, “Yeah, watch the space.”
Cavill previously told Collider, “Warhammer is progressing very well. Big things are happening, and we are very excited.”
Henry Cavill as Argylle in Argylle (2024), Universal Pictures
Of note, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Cavill will star in Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming Voltron adaptation from director Rawson Marshall Thurber.
Borys Kit reported, “Henry Cavill, the Superman actor and star of The Witcher, has come aboard to topline in the live-action feature based on the mecha anime that Rawson Marshall Thurber is directing.”
Cavill joins actor Daniel Quinn-Toye in the film.
Given Cavill appears to be deepening his relationship with Amazon rather than moving away from them, it lends credence to the idea that the Warhammer 40,000 project might still be alive at Amazon MGM Studios and there is movement behind-the-scenes.
Henry Cavill speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for “The Witcher”, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
What do you make of this new rumor from Mr. H Reviews?
