Agreement with Amazon for films and television series

[Progenitor]

"Exclusive rights" this may be why there's not Warhammer+ animation content being shown then. 

[Xanthous]

When I read the article, it sounded to me like they were going for an anthology-style series right away:

 

"it means we now have synopsis and ordering for the stories we’re going to tell... yep, we said stories!"

 

However I could see how this could easily be referring to separate projects; I guess we'll find out this time next year.

[Ripper.McGuirl]

12 minutes ago, Progenitor said:

"Exclusive rights" this may be why there's not Warhammer+ animation content being shown then. 

Very possible. I’m sure whatever Amazon deal they have in process is worth more to them than WH+ subscriptions.

I am sure it will be a *while* before we see much. I work in film and more or less if they started shooting today, we wouldnt be watching it until 18 months from now. But they are no where near them shooting yet, so I think take them at their word when they say we won’t see anything for “some years”.

Plus Cavill is doing Highlander first, and that’s gonna take a minute.

Edited December 10 by Ripper.McGuirl

[Iron Father Ferrum]

While I agree with a bunch of prior posts that Eisenhorn would probably be the best option, Space Marines are the flagship army and Eisenhorn has very little Marine involvement.  Using Space Marines ropes in people who like Big Power Armored Heros like Halo fans (and to be fair, younger kids, though an appropriate level of grimdark would make the show inappropriate for younger audiences).  It also gets a visual tie-in to Space Marine 2, which to my understanding snagged a lot of non-tabletop games.

 

In any case, I'm curious to see which direction they go.

[mecanojavi99]

6 minutes ago, Iron Father Ferrum said:

While I agree with a bunch of prior posts that Eisenhorn would probably be the best option, Space Marines are the flagship army and Eisenhorn has very little Marine involvement.  Using Space Marines ropes in people who like Big Power Armored Heros like Halo fans (and to be fair, younger kids, though an appropriate level of grimdark would make the show inappropriate for younger audiences).  It also gets a visual tie-in to Space Marine 2, which to my understanding snagged a lot of non-tabletop games.

 

In any case, I'm curious to see which direction they go.

If this was a one off thing, sure, do Space Marines.

 

But we are talking about a long term deal, you cannot drown people in Space Marines and then expect them to be interested in stuff like Ciaphas Cain or Gaunt's Ghost.

 

There's a reason why the MCU started with Iron Man and not the Avengers, if you want big on the long term you start small and build from there.

[ZeroWolf]

9 minutes ago, Xanthous said:

When I read the article, it sounded to me like they were going for an anthology-style series right away:

 

"it means we now have synopsis and ordering for the stories we’re going to tell... yep, we said stories!"

 

However I could see how this could easily be referring to separate projects; I guess we'll find out this time next year.

They specifically name project 1 as entering proper development now so I reckon we will see at least two things (all things being well).

 

6 minutes ago, Iron Father Ferrum said:

While I agree with a bunch of prior posts that Eisenhorn would probably be the best option, Space Marines are the flagship army and Eisenhorn has very little Marine involvement.  Using Space Marines ropes in people who like Big Power Armored Heros like Halo fans (and to be fair, younger kids, though an appropriate level of grimdark would make the show inappropriate for younger audiences).  It also gets a visual tie-in to Space Marine 2, which to my understanding snagged a lot of non-tabletop games.

 

In any case, I'm curious to see which direction they go.

This is true however the Eisenhorn books are popular (maybe the next best sellers next to the Hersey? Can anyone pull up figures for book sales?)

[Burni]

PSA: Watch the Secret Level episode in a darkened room - I couldn't see what was going on for most of it on a daytime living room TV. Will have to watch it again later!

 

What I did see looked good though! Not 100% on the story but decent (not played SM2 so probably missing stuff).

[Jalleo]

Now the proper development work begins.

 

I dont see the show being released before 2027 or 2028 if they want to give proper time for CGI, Props, Studio Backgrounds and writing to occur for this first project. (Yes money can be thrown at it but money does not equal quality)

 

There have been multiple actors/actresses put foward their interest in doing stuff with Cavill so I can see the show getting good casting options if they so choose.

[phandaal]

56 minutes ago, Iron Father Ferrum said:

While I agree with a bunch of prior posts that Eisenhorn would probably be the best option, Space Marines are the flagship army and Eisenhorn has very little Marine involvement.  Using Space Marines ropes in people who like Big Power Armored Heros like Halo fans (and to be fair, younger kids, though an appropriate level of grimdark would make the show inappropriate for younger audiences).  It also gets a visual tie-in to Space Marine 2, which to my understanding snagged a lot of non-tabletop games.

 

In any case, I'm curious to see which direction they go.

 

Agreed. Eisenhorn is a good way to show a side of 40k that is not focused on big battles and a good way to show all different parts of the Imperium, but the draw is Space Marines. We all know it will be Space Marines.

 

But maybe we get an Inquisition show once Amazon gets their big splash release and is convinced that more funding is warranted.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

The las focus thing seems to specifically chosen wording, maybe we’ll get a band of brothers style GG show.

30 minutes ago, Burni said:

PSA: Watch the Secret Level episode in a darkened room - I couldn't see what was going on for most of it on a daytime living room TV. Will have to watch it again later!

 

What I did see looked good though! Not 100% on the story but decent (not played SM2 so probably missing stuff).

I had no problem seeing what was happening watching at 8am.

 

[Emperor Ming]

So come back in 12 months at least then 

[Focslain]

So if GW can pull this off right. They could get this first project out in time for the projected release of 11th edition in the summer of '26. 

 

Not sure if 18 months is enough time, but possible?

[Sabadin]

1 hour ago, Burni said:

 

What I did see looked good though! Not 100% on the story but decent (not played SM2 so probably missing stuff).

 

You could not have played either and not missing anything other than Titus being important. If anything this animation seems to add some in universe lore to explain how Titus accomplished what he did in SM1.

[ZeroWolf]

3 minutes ago, Focslain said:

So if GW can pull this off right. They could get this first project out in time for the projected release of 11th edition in the summer of '26. 

 

Not sure if 18 months is enough time, but possible?

That's probably too optimistic if I'm honest. For something like that, get the secret level guys in to do another 15 minute short.

[DukeLeto69]

1 hour ago, ZeroWolf said:

That's probably too optimistic if I'm honest. For something like that, get the secret level guys in to do another 15 minute short.

Great for the clickbaiters. Will go quiet for 6 months and then…

 

”Amazon GW deal is dead, taking too long, can’t agree on script, hidden agenda derailing it, OMG the lore is under threat, Cavill walks (again)…” yadda yadda yadda until the day the show is on your TV or the film in the cinema.

[ZeroWolf]

3 minutes ago, DukeLeto69 said:

Great for the clickbaiters. Will go quiet for 6 months and then…

 

”Amazon GW deal is dead, taking too long, can’t agree on script, hidden agenda derailing it, OMG the lore is under threat, Cavill walks (again)…” yadda yadda yadda until the day the show is on your TV or the film in the cinema.

That was always sadly going to happen...got to keep the rage going somehow!

[Casual Heresy]

I don't know what I'm happier about: the fact this is going ahead or how this will wind up all the hatemonger youtubers and comment section snowflakes.

 

I would think going for an anthology series first would be a smart move. While the audience for Warhammer is far larger than it was ten years ago thanks to GW's growth and now Space Marine 2, there still plenty of people who have no idea what we're on about. A solid anthology that touches as much of the setting and factions from ground level and more mythic heights as possible to get people hooked would be nice, then follow up with a more focussed story like Eisenhorn.

 

If we want more 'domestic' 40k, tying alot of the Warhammer Crime stuff together into one series would be brilliant. I'm still holding out hope BL hasn't abandoned Crime entirely (but we all know what hope is the first step towards...).

[Carach]

3 hours ago, Iron Father Ferrum said:

While I agree with a bunch of prior posts that Eisenhorn would probably be the best option, Space Marines are the flagship army and Eisenhorn has very little Marine involvement.  Using Space Marines ropes in people who like Big Power Armored Heros like Halo fans (and to be fair, younger kids, though an appropriate level of grimdark would make the show inappropriate for younger audiences).  It also gets a visual tie-in to Space Marine 2, which to my understanding snagged a lot of non-tabletop games.

 

In any case, I'm curious to see which direction they go.

 

Vaults of Terra would be shorter, has human/space marine/more to satisfy all, and is appropriately grim dark as hell. 

 

Ive said before elsewhere that Kill Team is a good self contained novel that also introduces known kind of tropes and ab adequate "omg" moment for those wanting a dose of space marines without overdoing it (imo going 'full space marine' too early will take away the impact of their introduction)

[Blindhamster]

8 hours ago, System Sound said:

Hopefully the quality will be more like the Boys/Invincible rather than Wheel of Time/Rings of Power...

I thought wheel of time season 2 was a notable step up and pretty good… I also thought the boys went downhill.

 

so id rather just hope it’s good, and its own thing

[Halandaar]

3 hours ago, Focslain said:

So if GW can pull this off right. They could get this first project out in time for the projected release of 11th edition in the summer of '26. 

 

Not sure if 18 months is enough time, but possible?

 

At this point it's hardly anything to do with GW though, right? They've negotiated the guidelines and who gets the final say but the overwhelming bulk of the work is going to be done by Hollywood types (screenwriters, producers etc) from now on, and they are not going to give a moments thought to tying in with GW's launch cycles. And all it takes is another actors/writers strike and the whole thing gets delayed 6 months anyway.

 

What GW needs to do is make sure it's got tie-in minis ready to go when shows launch, not the other way around. They have so far proved to be very poor at this.

[DukeLeto69]

12 minutes ago, Halandaar said:

 

At this point it's hardly anything to do with GW though, right? They've negotiated the guidelines and who gets the final say but the overwhelming bulk of the work is going to be done by Hollywood types (screenwriters, producers etc) from now on, and they are not going to give a moments thought to tying in with GW's launch cycles. And all it takes is another actors/writers strike and the whole thing gets delayed 6 months anyway.

 

What GW needs to do is make sure it's got tie-in minis ready to go when shows launch, not the other way around. They have so far proved to be very poor at this.

Good points but there will be some attempt at coordination. If the TV Series’ and film(s) are based off BL novels then they should do tie in rereleases of the novels.

[grailkeeper]

Just watched the Secret Level episode. Really enjoyed it. It really reminded me of the Astartes Series, both in its design choices but also in its economy of storytelling. I was surpirsed when it turned out to have been made by someone else.

[DukeLeto69]

5 minutes ago, grailkeeper said:

Just watched the Secret Level episode. Really enjoyed it. It really reminded me of the Astartes Series, both in its design choices but also in its economy of storytelling. I was surpirsed when it turned out to have been made by someone else.

Wasn’t exactly tame either. I thought it was great (though need curtains drawn as dark on the TV). If THAT is how GW and Amazon have agreed their creative guidelines, then I am optimistic.

[DemonGSides]

I recently got one of those backlights that throw extra light onto the wall behind your TV, so very excited to get fully immersed into the animation this evening.

[StrangerOrders]

Was really, REALLY impressed with Secret Level so put me on the optimistic side for this deal.

 

The story was very short and anthology-esque which is about what you expect given the showrunners past work.

 

But the economic storytelling that was there was great, the visuals were great and as everyone has noted, they caught the 'language' of Astartes perfectly. The brutality, economy, scale and mindset. 

 

And I'd love a mini for a particular entity they showed. That was really cool. 

 

...As well as a hilariously 40k piece of wargear that I'd love to see on the tabletop.

 

Frankly great work, if Amazon sticks to this vision of Space Marines then I am more than happy to see it continue.

Edited December 10 by StrangerOrders