Games Workshop ‘exploring’ potential for Warhammer animation and live-action projects

A live-action Warhammer film or TV show? It could be a possibility, according to Games Workshop.

In the company’s latest annual report, CEO Kevin Rountree revealed that he had tasked a “small, senior team” with seeking out “new partners to help us bring the worlds of Warhammer to life like never before”.

“We believe our IP to be among the best in the world,” Rountree said. “The Warhammer settings are incredibly rich and evocative backdrops. They’re populated by more than three decades of fantastical characters and comprise of thousands of exciting narratives. Going forward, we want to make it easier than ever for people to engage with and immerse themselves in our IP.”

Among the formats that Rountree specifically mentioned as being ‘explored’ are animation and live-action – meaning that bringing the worlds of Warhammer to film or TV could be the ultimate aim.

Rountree added that Games Workshop sees Warhammer: Age of Sigmar, Warhammer 40,000 and Horus Heresy as its most important brands, suggesting that one or all three of the universes could be in the running for an adaptation.

It wouldn’t be the first time Games Workshop has brought its miniatures to the small screen – straight-to-DVD CGI flick Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie was released in 2010 and starred a surprising star-studded voice cast including John Hurt, Sean Pertwee and Terence Stamp.

The miniatures maker has doubled down on expanding the Warhammer universes with various licensed spin-offs in recent months, from the ongoing range of video games recently bolstered by sequels to co-op shooter Vermintide and RTS Total War: Warhammer to other tabletop games (including Monopoly), accessories and even kids’ books. Could film and TV be next?