Horror icon Mike Flanagan is penning the scripts for Amazon’s upcoming Warhammer 40K series. While the show is likely still years from release, the horror veteran is having a great time sinking into the grimdark universe.
In a previous interview, Flanagan discussed writing the series as “climbing my adaptation Everest”. The writer explained that “the challenge is how do you get in”, explaining that the hundreds of novel-length books are too much to parse, but it provides a fascinating challenge.
Now, in a separate interview with Deadline, Flanagan explained that they’re having “the time of my life” working on the Warhammer 40K show. Alongside Flanagan, Man of Steel and The Witcher actor Henry Cavill is heavily involved in the series, and the writer is refusing to divulge details as to not spoil any of Cavill’s plans.
“Henry Cavill would be furious if I divulged anything about what we’re working on,” Flanagan explained. He added that, while they won’t reveal the plot of the show, the series has found “a very cool and unexpected on-ramp into it”. Flanagan notes that he is “sworn to secrecy on all of it”, and won’t be revealing anything without permission.
“All I can say is that Warhammer is a fascinating world,” he added. “The challenge, as anyone familiar with it knows, is finding a way in – it’s so big. There are 700 novels, discounting the [table top] game, the interactive elements and so much of the rest of the lore.”
Prior to Flanagan’s involvement, the Warhammer 40K series has spent years in pre-production at Amazon. It’s still not known what era of the franchise the series will take place in, what characters will appear, or even if Space Marines are involved at all. (Let’s face it, though, Amazon will definitely want to make use of that awesome iconography.)
Alongside Cavill and Flanagan’s live-action series, Amazon has also greenlit another Warhammer 40K series. In development at Blur Studios, the animation house behind the Amazon Prime Video series Secret Level, which itself had a 40K episode, fans will be treated to two Warhammer shows.
Helmed by Dave Wilson, who directed Secret Level’s Warhammer story, the series will be penned by Band of Brothers writer John Orloff. The animated series is also being produced by Henry Cavill who is helping on all of Amazon’s Warhammer output.
There is currently no release date for either of Amazon’s Warhammer 40K TV shows at the time of writing, but it’s an exciting time to be a fan of the series.
