Acclaimed horror director Mike Flanagan is now attached to Amazon's upcoming live-action adaptation of Warhammer 40,000, according to an update in Games Workshop's latest financial report. Flanagan, known for his work on Netflix series like The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor, is expected to move on to scripting duties soon after completing initial outlines for the project.
Flanagan joins actor Henry Cavill, a noted fan of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, who is also attached to the series. The tabletop wargame is set in a grim future where humanity faces numerous threats, including aliens and cosmic horrors. This adaptation aims to bring the franchise's long-established "grimdark" aesthetic to a live-action format.
While the report confirms Cavill's continued involvement, details regarding the project's timeline remain scarce. Games Workshop's CEO Kevin Rountree stated in the report that these adaptations "will take years to bring successfully to market," hinting at a potentially lengthy development period.
The partnership with Amazon, however, is expected to yield multiple projects, as suggested by the mention of "adaptations" in the plural. Fans can also anticipate a sequel to the animated Warhammer 40,000 episode that appeared in the Secret Level anthology. Games Workshop has "almost completed an episode for Secret Level Season 2," which will explore the Age of Sigmar universe, a fantasy setting related to the 40,000 universe. Additionally, work has begun on a full animated Warhammer 40,000 series focusing on the Space Marines' Deathwatch chapter. This animated series will be written by John Orloff, animated by Blur, and released through Amazon.