Agreement with Amazon for films and television series

[Redcomet]

Holy hell the 40k episode was AMAZING. It looked so good

[Tastyfish]

2 hours 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.

That will be trickier than you might think, as Amazon do have the merchandising rights for what they do with GW's IP and will have their own marketing plans - far as they are concerned whilst it would be nice to keep the GW fans and players happy with what they're doing, they did already pay GW for the IP so as far as Amazon is concerned whatever GW does is only of value to them as an additional marketing stream.

 

There's likely going to be a bunch of back and forth between lawyers and marketing teams about who can see what and when which is not going to care very much about manufacturing timelines and stock levels in Warhammer stores. Not to mention the odd cases about where the lines between toys/games and miniatures are being drawn and who owns which interpretation of which characters or actors likenesses.

[Halandaar]

32 minutes ago, Tastyfish said:

Not to mention the odd cases about where the lines between toys/games and miniatures are being drawn and who owns which interpretation of which characters or actors likenesses.

 

I find it extremely hard to envision that GW did not (or will not) lock down their right to produce 40k minis based on characters from Amazon's 40K productions. Even if they let Amazon have merchandising for everything else, the minis is one thing they cannot compromise on.

[StrangerOrders]

Amazon will likely figure out the most-tested of tool of 40k adaptation:

 

The Successor Chapter.

 

Would give them an entity to do with as they will with minimal concern.

 

For extra fun they could name them the Zeitgeists. 

 

Honestly, one of the biggest advantages of 40k is that its one of the smartest settings about scope, oddly enough.

 

A disturbing amount of scifi franchises treat the opposite side of the Galaxy as next door in terms of comms, culture and the like and populate their setting with all of 10 worlds.

 

They could literally tell a million and one interconnected stories touching on almost every faction without having to leave a single sector or disturbing 'canon' if they wanted to. 

Edited December 10 by StrangerOrders

[Elfranco]

Seem to be in the minority but found Secret Level rather poor. Well done in the animation but no plot really - it felt like a cut scene for a wider game, which I guess it was. I also felt that if you knew nothing of 40k this would not help you lean into it. I know 20 minutes is not much time to do alot but felt the recent game trailers did more in terms of a narrative. I think it was close but just not there for me. 

 

On the series development I personally hope its Inqusition based... My thought would be a build up of an acolyte group who's Inquistor gets them to collect a few artifacts and then goes rogue, leading to one of the group (Cavell of course) becoming a full inqusitor and hunting down the rogue. By using an ensomble cast it could easily have spin offs...so one charecter could end up isolated and seemingly dead to have a solo series about them doing something like dealing with a genestealer cult while trying to planet hop to rejoin the others.

 

That could add in some more exploration of the background without the main series having to shoe horn in every aspect of the universe. I also hope it's all live action as cgi is still to neich for mainstream audiences. And finally space marines should not be main charecters - at most used sparingly and shown as being horrific, Flesh Tearers 'liberating' an imperial world from a chaos cult with as much blood as khorne would wish for. 

Edited December 10 by Elfranco
Layout

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

3 hours ago, Blindhamster said:

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

Loved the beastmen in wheel of time, but was unable to get back into it for S2.

 

I definitely agree the boys’ quality fell drastically in the final season…still haven’t finished it.

[Tastyfish]

50 minutes ago, Halandaar said:

 

I find it extremely hard to envision that GW did not (or will not) lock down their right to produce 40k minis based on characters from Amazon's 40K productions. Even if they let Amazon have merchandising for everything else, the minis is one thing they cannot compromise on.

 

I think you're right, but having a set ready for series one of Project One is going to be dependant on Amazon playing ball with the people they paid, in a reverse LOTR situation.

It's doable, would make sense but the contracts are likely to be less on the side of the manufacturers this time around when it comes to pressuring decisions to get things done in time.

 

They're going to be working on Amazon's schedule, rather than having some partnership manager with some hefty clauses able to whip some snap decisions out of people they shoved into a room. 

[skylerboodie]

59 minutes ago, Elfranco said:

Seem to be in the minority but found Secret Level rather poor. Well done in the animation but no plot really - it felt like a cut scene for a wider game, which I guess it was. I also felt that if you knew nothing of 40k this would not help you lean into it.

I agree re: not great for newbies, hoped it / future shows do a better job of being more friendly to the uninitiated, though not at the expense of the grimdark of course.

[Elfranco]

18 minutes ago, skylerboodie said:

I agree re: not great for newbies, hoped it / future shows do a better job of being more friendly to the uninitiated, though not at the expense of the grimdark of course.

It did do the grim dark at least, and after tying the pacman episode I can put the 40k episode in some context of where the series is pitched. Not for me overall, but good to see something novel being tried. 

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

1 hour ago, Elfranco said:

Seem to be in the minority but found Secret Level rather poor. Well done in the animation but no plot really - it felt like a cut scene for a wider game, which I guess it was. I also felt that if you knew nothing of 40k this would not help you lean into it. I know 20 minutes is not much time to do alot but felt the recent game trailers did more in terms of a narrative. I think it was close but just not there for me. 

 

On the series development I personally hope its Inqusition based... My thought would be a build up of an acolyte group who's Inquistor gets them to collect a few artifacts and then goes rogue, leading to one of the group (Cavell of course) becoming a full inqusitor and hunting down the rogue. By using an ensomble cast it could easily have spin offs...so one charecter could end up isolated and seemingly dead to have a solo series about them doing something like dealing with a genestealer cult while trying to planet hop to rejoin the others.

 

That could add in some more exploration of the background without the main series having to shoe horn in every aspect of the universe. I also hope it's all live action as cgi is still to neich for mainstream audiences. And finally space marines should not be main charecters - at most used sparingly and shown as being horrific, Flesh Tearers 'liberating' an imperial world from a chaos cult with as much blood as khorne would wish for. 

What do you mean no plot?

the plot was they had to destroy a relic.

It’s not a complex plot, and most people don’t get into franchises based on some single deep lore event typically. Most people get into sci-fi and fantasy because of one or two elements that seem cool.

 

the secret level episode gave several opportunities for that, showing the universe has ‘normal’ humans, motorcycles, buggies, and tanks, as well as demons and creatures some might call nightmare fuel.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

28 minutes ago, skylerboodie said:

I agree re: not great for newbies, hoped it / future shows do a better job of being more friendly to the uninitiated, though not at the expense of the grimdark of course.

Idk what you guys wanted to make it newbie friendly in like 15 minutes.

 

it showed some awesome fight scenes and effects/animation, which is what the overwhelming majority of people care about for most visual media these days.

 

marvel movies are massive and they haven’t at any point had any good starting points to any hero’s deeper lore, but what they do have is cool fight scenes and effects.

 

what gets the  uninitiated interested in a property and what people deep into a franchise thinks is interesting for new people are often very different.

[Doghouse]

1 hour ago, Elfranco said:

Seem to be in the minority but found Secret Level rather poor. Well done in the animation but no plot really - it felt like a cut scene for a wider game, which I guess it was. I also felt that if you knew nothing of 40k this would not help you lean into it. I know 20 minutes is not much time to do alot but felt the recent game trailers did more in terms of a narrative. I think it was close but just not there for me. 

 

If it's any consolation I felt the same. For me it leant too much into the tone and pacing of Astartes, it was ok but I had hoped for more. I did actually burst out laughing when he produced the psyker from his lunchbox, it definitely works nicely using humans as tech in terms of the lore but I couldn't help but laugh. I think the downside was I kept thinking of the Inquisitor in Astartes which kept throwing me off.

 

For a short it worked fine as they are limited in terms of story that they can cram in so went with the visuals rather than masses of dialogue and that's also what made Astartes so great for me. Both being examples of show rather than tell.

 

From an interview I read the other day one of the guys from Blur studios when talking about this episode mentioned they are currently working with Henry Cavill on an unspecified project which did make me think that the deal had gone through and that more animations are coming.

[ZeroWolf]

It should be pointed out that the guy behind Astartes was involved in this short. Valrak mentioned it in his breakdown of the episode. I loved the episode personally especially the details buried in each scene, like the Knight/Titan wreckage they walk over.

[darkhorse0607]

Just finished it and  am making a screenshot of the hangar my computer background.

 

I enjoyed it honestly. I do have some nitpicks, but I think overall it was good. It felt very Astartes so I'm not surprised that he had a role to play in making this. If the rest of the Amazon stuff is this quality, I'll be happy with it

 

I watched it with my gf, who has read a few books (namely Lords of Silence because she likes nurgle) and while she had questions like "ok so explain what happened" (which, tbh, I think the complaints of them not explaining anything are fair, they couldve just said what the mission actually was on the screen when Titus' mentor received the transmission which would have cleared it up enough), she also enjoyed it which is kind of my litmus test for non-warhammer fans

 

That being said

 

Spoiler

It absolutely irked me they brought a psyker in a lunchbox instead of a librarian. They were sent by Calgar given the end of SM 2, had a ton of support given the hangar scene, and did not bring a librarian. To fight a demon.

I know it's nitpicking, and that wasn't the point of the who thing but it bugged me

 

[DemonGSides]

12 minutes ago, darkhorse0607 said:

Just finished it and  am making a screenshot of the hangar my computer background.

 

I enjoyed it honestly. I do have some nitpicks, but I think overall it was good. It felt very Astartes so I'm not surprised that he had a role to play in making this. If the rest of the Amazon stuff is this quality, I'll be happy with it

 

I watched it with my gf, who has read a few books (namely Lords of Silence because she likes nurgle) and while she had questions like "ok so explain what happened" (which, tbh, I think the complaints of them not explaining anything are fair, they couldve just said what the mission actually was on the screen when Titus' mentor received the transmission which would have cleared it up enough), she also enjoyed it which is kind of my litmus test for non-warhammer fans

 

That being said

 

  Hide contents

It absolutely irked me they brought a psyker in a lunchbox instead of a librarian. They were sent by Calgar given the end of SM 2, had a ton of support given the hangar scene, and did not bring a librarian. To fight a demon.

I know it's nitpicking, and that wasn't the point of the who thing but it bugged me

 

 

With regards to your spoiler;

 

That same transmission that was shown also said that they expected total casualties for this mission; ie an expected suicide run.  I don't think many would consider throwing a librarian into a known suicide run when they think the mission can be accomplished by a mortal, though I agree it would've been cool to see a SM Librarian.

I enjoyed it.  Concise, without too much baggage of figuring out what's what.  I would enjoy a show in that same vein, please.

[darkhorse0607]

10 minutes ago, DemonGSides said:

 

With regards to your spoiler;

 

 

  Hide contents

That same transmission that was shown also said that they expected total casualties for this mission; ie an expected suicide run.  I don't think many would consider throwing a librarian into a known suicide run when they think the mission can be accomplished by a mortal, though I agree it would've been cool to see a SM Librarian.

I enjoyed it.  Concise, without too much baggage of figuring out what's what.  I would enjoy a show in that same vein, please.

 

Re spoiler

 

Spoiler

So there is that. But then they were willing to throw three first company veterans into it, plus a LT/former captain that just received honors from Calgar,

I dunno. Plus there's no saying that including a librarian wouldn't have raised the "definite suicide mission" meter up to "maybe suicide mission" since it would have increased their ability to fight the demon

 

Again, nitpicking, enjoyed it overall. Totally not the point of the show. I just hope the next shows are a bit better on the storytelling side, especially since they're hoping to pull more people into the GW bubble.

 

 

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

1 hour ago, darkhorse0607 said:

 

Re spoiler

 

  Hide contents

So there is that. But then they were willing to throw three first company veterans into it, plus a LT/former captain that just received honors from Calgar,

I dunno. Plus there's no saying that including a librarian wouldn't have raised the "definite suicide mission" meter up to "maybe suicide mission" since it would have increased their ability to fight the demon

 

Again, nitpicking, enjoyed it overall. Totally not the point of the show. I just hope the next shows are a bit better on the storytelling side, especially since they're hoping to pull more people into the GW bubble.

 

 

Spoiler

Is it worth risking a psyker for ‘only kinda probably’ a suicide mission?

 

[beefeb]

9 hours ago, Inquisitor_Lensoven said:

What do you mean no plot?

the plot was they had to destroy a relic.

It’s not a complex plot, and most people don’t get into franchises based on some single deep lore event typically. Most people get into sci-fi and fantasy because of one or two elements that seem cool.

 

the secret level episode gave several opportunities for that, showing the universe has ‘normal’ humans, motorcycles, buggies, and tanks, as well as demons and creatures some might call nightmare fuel.

 

 

Why was the Sergeant in charge while Titus took a backseat?  I get they had a connection with the Sergeant having recuited him as a child but still?

[Elfranco]

6 minutes ago, beefeb said:

 

 

Why was the Sergeant in charge while Titus took a backseat?  I get they had a connection with the Sergeant having recuited him as a child but still?

This is kind of what 8 mean by no plot... It just was some scenes put together with out telling you what was going on or why. As a part of a game that is fine but not what I wanted from an episode. I know most people want marines doing the kick arse stuff but I would have liked more about them... It was well done in terms of the digital assets but a little more explanation would have built it up for me. Still never going to complain about them trying and alot of people seem happy so 8 guess that is good. Would be interesting to know the per episode viewing figures to see how the different IPs compare. 

[grailkeeper]

11 hours ago, StrangerOrders said:

Amazon will likely figure out the most-tested of tool of 40k adaptation:

 

The Successor Chapter.

 

Would give them an entity to do with as they will with minimal concern.

 

 

 

Make them a Raven Guard successor. The Raven Guard are from deliverance so thry could be the Amazon Deliverers.

[DukeLeto69]

1 hour ago, Elfranco said:

This is kind of what 8 mean by no plot... It just was some scenes put together with out telling you what was going on or why. As a part of a game that is fine but not what I wanted from an episode. I know most people want marines doing the kick arse stuff but I would have liked more about them... It was well done in terms of the digital assets but a little more explanation would have built it up for me. Still never going to complain about them trying and alot of people seem happy so 8 guess that is good. Would be interesting to know the per episode viewing figures to see how the different IPs compare. 

I’d say the plot was…THIN…but there was a plot:

 

1. Squad given mission orders

2. Squad deployed close to objective

3. Squad destroy resistance to reach objective

4. Objective is a bit tricky full of chaos daemon shenanigans

5. Luckily they brought a psyker

6. Oh no that psyker wasn’t much help

7. Space Marines no match for the daemon thingy except…

8. Titus who still kicks butt

9. Oh it was a suicide mission…or was it ha ha

(plus a little origins of Titus in flashback)

[dalmer]

I believe that the Secret Level 40k episode, much like all the other episodes, was a "dip in the pool" to draw interest in things.  For example, the D&D one -- do you need all the lore, backstory, explanations, plot?  Nope.  But if it draws folks new to the universe in to peek around and explore more, all the better.

 

Ditto for the 40k episode.  "What the heck was that?  That was cool as heck!" came from a buddy that watched it and knew nothing about 40k.  Now he's asking about not only the game, but the books, the lore, etc.  Was fascinated that it was it's own well-established universe.

 

Maybe the small vignettes were meant not for us, but for "them" so to speak.

[DemonGSides]

6 minutes ago, dalmer said:

I believe that the Secret Level 40k episode, much like all the other episodes, was a "dip in the pool" to draw interest in things.  For example, the D&D one -- do you need all the lore, backstory, explanations, plot?  Nope.  But if it draws folks new to the universe in to peek around and explore more, all the better.

 

Ditto for the 40k episode.  "What the heck was that?  That was cool as heck!" came from a buddy that watched it and knew nothing about 40k.  Now he's asking about not only the game, but the books, the lore, etc.  Was fascinated that it was it's own well-established universe.

 

Maybe the small vignettes were meant not for us, but for "them" so to speak.

 

I mean, yeah that's the entire intent for the whole anthology. They said that since day one.

 

Anyone expecting legitimate lore drops out of this are already missing the point. 

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

20 hours ago, beefeb said:

 

 

Why was the Sergeant in charge while Titus took a backseat?  I get they had a connection with the Sergeant having recuited him as a child but still?

I can’t speak for space marines in the 41st millennium, but in modern militaries  people with sgt in their titles tend to be the ones that actually do the real leading from the front (at least in ‘western’ style militaries) and LTs are generally considered jokes, and a good officer will defer to a more experienced and knowledgeable NCO, and a good NCO will know how to lead without undermining the officer’s authority.

20 hours ago, Elfranco said:

This is kind of what 8 mean by no plot... It just was some scenes put together with out telling you what was going on or why. As a part of a game that is fine but not what I wanted from an episode. I know most people want marines doing the kick arse stuff but I would have liked more about them... It was well done in terms of the digital assets but a little more explanation would have built it up for me. Still never going to complain about them trying and alot of people seem happy so 8 guess that is good. Would be interesting to know the per episode viewing figures to see how the different IPs compare. 

The scene before they boarded the drop pod told you what was happening, you just needed to read like 18 words or fewer.

[Indy Techwisp]

6 hours ago, Inquisitor_Lensoven said:

I can’t speak for space marines in the 41st millennium, but in modern militaries  people with sgt in their titles tend to be the ones that actually do the real leading from the front (at least in ‘western’ style militaries) and LTs are generally considered jokes, and a good officer will defer to a more experienced and knowledgeable NCO, and a good NCO will know how to lead without undermining the officer’s authority.

 

Titus is a demoted Captain, so a lot of the jokes about Lt.'s don't really apply because they're usually synonymous with "New Officer" issues i.e. they have the rank but no info.

 

Then again, Titus spent a very long time seemingly as a Sargent equivalent in Deathwatch between having his Captain rank removed and being reinstated as a Lieutenant, so maybe its a bit of that Deathwatch training to "Defer to the Battle Brother who actually knows what's up" coming through.