Fans have an unfortunate habit of reducing the efforts of dozens of creatives to a single marketable name. A great director might unfairly claim praise over aspects of a project they didn’t contribute to. Movie stars are frequently more closely tied to a film than the crew who created it. Henry Cavill is one of the most talked-about performers in the world, and he’s stepping into a new Executive Producer role to get his beloved Warhammer license right.
Cavill is a favorite of nerds for many reasons. He stepped into the role of Superman for Man of Steel, and even those who hated Zack Snyder’s take on the character were likely to praise his performance. He’s spoken publicly about his love for building PCs and tabletop gaming. Cavill was celebrated for his intense devotion to the source material in his work with The Witcher. He’s seen as one of the community’s mightiest advocates in Hollywood.
Henry Cavill will produce a Warhammer series for Amazon
In December 2022, Amazon acquired the exclusive TV and film rights to Warhammer 40,000. Amazon reportedly had to fight off several other major entertainment brands to secure the IP. This news came after the three-year silence of Frank Spotnitz’s announced series about Imperial Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn. The franchise also inspired a web-exclusive animated series entitled Hammer and Bolter. Amazon intends to create a live-action universe of films and TV series. Amazon received the series from Henry Cavill, who worked with Vertigo Entertainment partially through his longtime girlfriend, Natalie Viscuso. Cavill, Viscuso, and Vertigo’s Roy Lee attained the IP for development and brought it to Amazon for their platform. Cavill is set to star in the first unnamed series and Executive Produce each project. He’s reportedly elated to be involved.
Henry Cavill is a big Warhammer fan
Cavill’s nerd credibility was revealed slowly over his career. Fans are used to comic book heroes being portrayed by performers who may not have any love for the source material. Some of the most iconic superheroes on the big screen have been embodied by actors whose first relationship with the character developed through this project. Cavill could’ve been seen as a similar talent, but interviews with comedic talk shows allowed him to share his love of pop-cultural esoterica. When Graham Norton asked Cavill about his favorite nerdy subjects, Cavill was quick to gush about his love of Warhammer 40,000. In an interview with Netflix Geeked, he shared a charming bonding moment with his Witcher co-star Joey Batey over their mutual experience with the game. An interviewer at Nerdist asked Cavill which army Sherlock Holmes might play. After Cavill carefully considered his answer and asked questions beyond the purview of the journalist, he provided a well-reasoned response. It’s safe to say he’s a fan.
What is Warhammer 40,000 about?
Conflict journalist, science fiction author, and longtime Warhammer 40,000 fan Robert Evans once described the franchise as a reality in which “everyone’s worse than Hitler.” There are too many stories within the universe to count, but its overall setting is a never-ending galaxy-spanning conflict between various genocidal maniacs. At or around the turn of the 42nd millennium, the human race has stopped all social and scientific progress to focus on eternal war. The Imperium of Man wages an endless futile battle against hostile aliens, supernatural threats, and malevolent gods. There is no peace. There are no goals to aspire to. There is only the unending sacrifice of trillions of lives to stave off the end of all things good and pure for another few pointless years. The franchise is credited with coining the term “grimdark.” This oppressively venomous reality plays the backdrop to a thousand stories about soldiers living miserable lives and dying gruesome deaths.
Though Warhammer 40,000 is, by default, sad, angry, bitter, and nihilistic, its fans have found joy in watching it cross the line twice. It’s frequently so transgressive and pessimistic that it comes back around to being hilarious. Elements of the story, most notably the green football hooligans known as the Orks, are framed as intentionally hilarious. There are bright elements of this impossibly dark world. All these power-armored Marines take themselves so seriously as they toss themselves into one sentient food processor after another. Fans get different kinds of enjoyment out of the franchise. Cavill might be able to oversee both as they come to the screen.
It’s unknown whether Cavill loves the dense lore of Warhammer 40,000 or its more comedic elements. He could be fond of both. Either way, he’s clearly dedicated to the franchise he fell in love with when he was 10. Cavill won’t be the only voice bringing Warhammer to the small screen, but he’ll be the public face of the operation. Fans of Warhammer can rest assured knowing that their favorite far future will soon take the present by storm.
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