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40k is such a rich and varied background, there are plenty of possibilities for a movie or TV series... but doing Horus Heresy right off the bat is insane, I think some Inquisitorial drama off the lines of The Eisenhorn/Ravenor series, or a Rogue Trader setting, would make for a better story, more sex, and be a decent enough introduction to the universe. And CGI actually makes it all possible. Of course they can't make it rated R, because they're GW and they must sell to the masses of pimpled teenagers. Damn you GW.

I think there's hope. If 40k video games and books can be successful, and they are arguably probably more successful than the miniatures at the moment, movies can as well, the execs probably want to see how the Lord Inquisitor animation does first. Not to mention every major comic book series seems to be going to film these days and things like 40k are what comics used to be.

I have always thought a 40K story would be better done stylised like the film 300 or sin ciy, with that comic book style. I think t would make the space marines look a little less goofy, allow the use of cgi and humans ad also to make combat scenes look pretty awesome.

For the horus heresy I would say it would have to be at least 2 films with it specifically to the point. It would alos have to be written well, whereas i think a 40k film in general would be good as a mindless shoot em up film, this particular story would need to have a bit more feeling otherwise people wouldn't bother watching a second film if they really didnt give a f### about Horus in the first place nor really care that he could be swayed from the emperor.

Also in my opinion they would have to tone down the buddy on buddy love (for want of a better phrase) that the astares share as that gets very tedious (much like in lord of the rings and the hobbit on hobbit love). The astartes would have to be shown to be a bit more "human" and less of just a "clone race" as really apart from the war side of things, Astartes are pretty dull people.

I think a 40k movie would do really well if it was marketed right and written/directed well.

This would probably never happen, but if WETA produced it, it would look amazing. I can always wish though. WETA obviously did an amazing job with the LoTR movies, and the Halo 3 live action trailers they did were amazing as well. If anyone could pull of a good production of 40k, it'd be them.

And I agree, as much as a I love Space Marines, I think I'd rather see a movie that was Inquisition or even IG centered. They have a little more depth than Space Marines. Maybe a movie about Yarrick during Armageddon?

Only way I believe they can truly make the movie hit home. Bring the 40k idea of humanity on the break of extinction. Would be to follow a young IG's men through the ropes. It would make a great TV series as well. First session (if we go TV series) we watch him /her train and create relationships with fellow IG members. Towards the end of session one he/she meets a SM and hears the tales of war. Session 2 he is shipped off to duty escort a commissar during their mission he encounters some more races. He understands the char more and gets a look into his thoughts of the universe. Towards the end of this session he goes to war!!!! Session 3 we follow him through a major battle marked in 40k history every episode is a key battle we see less sit back and hold the line IG (like on the table) and a more aggressive side of IG. Towards the end of the session our buddy comes across the marine he met while in training. Bested by an enemy the guardsman has never seen. Wounds on the marine are something he has never seen. At this point the guardsman is introduced to Demons. Something he has only heard in whispers. That’s about it I’m at work and I can go one for days. Movie wise just cram all this together leave off where I did and make part 2. LOL

I think GW needs a radical approach. Instead of gambling on a Block Buster hit or miss, we need to try kick start a few short stories into movies. Some movie producers are using kickstart to test how many people are willing to see a movie before investing major capital to make their films. Knowing that GW is uninteresting and unwilling to take risks making unprofitable media, perhaps they could be persuaded to grant copyright licensing use for eager film amateur who are hardcore fans of WH40k, by producing to GW their best story pitch and 1-5 minute trailers. These trailers will showcase the film maker's capabilities and what he or she can do with little capital before being granted GW funding. If GW is impressed by the visual trailer and the film maker's talent and is willing to grant limited copyright usage, but is still unwilling to fund the project then it all falls on kickstarter and the people to make the film happen. GW should still reserve the right to cancel a project or issue a cease and desist order if the film does not meet GW's views or policies.

I feel that the collection of short stories set in the WH40k universe such as, "Let the Galaxy Burn" is a great source of well written drama, thrilling and riveting stories that show case many perspectives in the wh40k setting.

This strategy will avoid the pitfall of a major box office flop. Unlike a tv series, where the audience needs to watch if from the beginning to understand what is going on, a few self explained and contained stories will allow unfamiliar viewers to jump in and take a glimpse into the wh40k universe. Each short movie is independent of each other so if 1 or a few were a failure it would have little to no effect on future ventures. If a couple short movies succeed to gather high praise and critical acclaim, a collection of the short movies could be packaged together and sold as a collectors edition. The collectors edition should contain items not attainable by internet streaming or downloading such as limited edition tangible figurines, info cards (a picture of an actor in character and a brief bio), terrain pieces etc... Nothing that can be shared on the internet such as soundtracks, behind the scene video, or any media.

The short films can be as short as 1minute to 40 or 50 minutes. TV shows are 30 minutes, movies are usually an hour or more. The whole point of a 30 minute show is to keep you intrigued to tune in next week often leaving on a cliff hanger. The whole point of a 60-120 minute movie is to get you to come in and pay for a ticket and often maybe boring or just unpleasant for someone to sit for so long. These wh40k short story films do not have to adhere to such standards. It would be interesting to see how well a story can be told in as few minutes as possible. It would also be interesting to see how well a story can keep an audience entertained for as long as possible.

Save the major stories in wh40k for GW when they do decide that they can make money on making block buster movies.

boyd wrote:

 cincydooley wrote:
It would work better as, IMO, a TV Series, probably in CGI (and not Ultramarines CGI)

Not that it is much better, but something in the realm of Star Wars: Clone Wars wouldn't be bad.

Thats really not a bad idea and would cost as much as making a full movie now cartoon or CGI is the bigger question. CGI has better detail and looks cooler but takes longer to make, while a detailed cartoon series would be pretty freaking cool

1 movie to cover the primarchs chaos gods and the emperors finding of the primarchs with a few interesting battles or fights in between/throughout.

1 movie to show a certain primarch that fell to Chaos (probably Horus) and the other chapters he took with him.

And then you could go onto how the iron warriors and the imperial fists always hated each other. And the Thousand Sons conflict as well as showing a chapter example of how it slowly falls to the grasp of chaos

I think there should be the main characters too.
I just don't know where to put them...

 MandalorynOranj wrote:
I don't think the Horus Heresy would be very well suited for adaptation. Too much of the important and interesting stuff is internal (like te Primarchs' thoughts and stuff) that would be tough to portray on screen. I think something without marines would be much better suited to the screen, or at least something with marines as just supporting characters. My vote always goes for Eisenhorn or Gaunt's Ghosts as the best-suited for adaptation.

Ooooooh Now you've got me thinking about a Ravenor film adapation... that would be awesome!

boyd wrote:

 cincydooley wrote:
It would work better as, IMO, a TV Series, probably in CGI (and not Ultramarines CGI)

Not that it is much better, but something in the realm of Star Wars: Clone Wars wouldn't be bad.

I was thinking more Band of brothers/Pacific.

This thread is going to turn ino a fanboy nerdgasm of proposed 40k movie scripts.

I vote 3. Part one Horus as a good guy. Part two Horus as a troubled good guy. Part three Horus as a bad guy. Isnt that how the books went anyway?

0 as the HH is simply to black and white to make a good movie or even good books.

Alpha legion maybe could make a good film.

It would never work - too much of a niche appeal, too esoteric for mainstream audiences, notwithstanding the fact that it assumes too much knowledge from the viewer/reader. It's familiar to all of us because we know the background but to someone new watching it in a cinema? No way - it would require lengthy and boring prologues too narrate the background.

If they ever did thsi it would have to be a series and they could only do one or two books per movie. IMO they would need to hand it over to the guys that did the final fantasy movies. Ultra marines was a disgrace. The dawn of war and space Marine games were huge hits, I have people that know nothing about warhammer reading the horus heresy now just because of the those games. Hell you could make it a mini series on sci-fi or cartoon network.

As much as i would love to see a HH movie series I don't think it will happen. You can put plenty of sex between the humans on the ships, you've got the violence, but the big issues is all the guys in the big ass armor running around. Live action just has a hard time with that. Sure you can CG the more fast pace scenes but they are most likely going to look a bit silly. I can only think of a handful of actors that might pull it off. Now if you want to do a regular SM CGI series then I say do a deathwatch show. This way you have a small group of badasses that are from different chapters and can team up with the other chapters and IG companies every so often. I think it would be a more mainstream way to introduce people to the 40k universe.

Personally, I would love to see the Horus Heresy on Film. I've only seen little bits and pieces of various 40k Films, Ultramarine being probably the best animation wise, but I would love to see a live action 40k film with a high budget. Seeing the Primarchs in full on battle.. now that would be amazing!
In all truth though, it would be very difficult and most likely improbable, but would still be awesome as fetch!

boyd wrote:

 cincydooley wrote:
It would work better as, IMO, a TV Series, probably in CGI (and not Ultramarines CGI)

Not that it is much better, but something in the realm of Star Wars: Clone Wars wouldn't be bad.

I note that people have not said the Clone Wars, and if that was intentional, I commend you all. I think if GW really actually thought about how much profit a serious film or TV series would rake in, those business execs would gak themselves. Sadly, the thought has not occurred to them and never will.

Off topic: speaking of violence and the 2003 Clone Wars, I hold what Grievous did to a frigging small army of clones to be the most brutal scene in Western animation I've personally seen. (Yeah, I excluded anime intentionally)

Before they do a film adaptation I would like them to finish Lokens story arch personally...

...But ya the whole time I read the first three books I couldn't help but think what a great mini series like Battlestar Galactica, at least the first couple of books would make...

...Ive given up on them finishing the main story though as HH is doing to well for black library

Three movies - First is the rise of the eldar empire with the old ones and its fall, second is the rise of the imperium of man and the subsequent black crusade, third would bring us up to present day.

Animated Series. Have the first be a Rogue Trader in 40k. Give him/her a tie in with an Eldar craft world and a good relationship with a notable SM Chapter. It would work really well.

After that, up the production value and go HH.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Seeing as GW stole my allies and escalation ideas (seriously, we've played with almost identical rules for 3 years). Maybe they'll stalk me and take this idea too.

If it was about space marines it wouldn't be on HBO, its just not much of a drama like 'the Game of Thrones'. "There is only war" makes for a pretty boring story. If it was about the Inquisition then maybe. I just don't see the Horus Heresy as interesting enough for a mini series. Or a series about how Chaos isn't really evil... just misunderstood.

I'm seconding swastakowy's idea-- at least, I would watch a film/series about the individual Guardsmen. If it were anything like Gaunt's Ghosts, there would be a spectrum of developed characters, none of whom in particular have serious plot armor.

All depends on who they hand writing and directing off to. For example, were Gav Thorpe, Dan Abnett, and William King doing the writing, and it got directed/produced by J.J. Abrams, we'd probably end up with something awesome. However, if they were to give the Horus Heresy the same treatment they gave The Last Airbender (i.e. if Shyamalan gets his filthy hands anywhere near the project), we're probably going to end up with something pretty stupid. Just saying.

 Za_Docta wrote:
All depends on who they hand writing and directing off to. For example, were Gav Thorpe, Dan Abnett, and William King doing the writing, and it got directed/produced by J.J. Abrams, we'd probably end up with something awesome. However, if they were to give the Horus Heresy the same treatment they gave The Last Airbender (i.e. if Shyamalan gets his filthy hands anywhere near the project), we're probably going to end up with something pretty stupid. Just saying.

Giving the writing duties to any of those people would be a bad idea (see Ultramarines, written by Abnett). You don't put novel authors in charge of screenwriting, they are two entirely different skill sets. Being good at writing books has absolutely nothing to do with being good at writing movies because of the huge difference in media.

Ya if they could get the Weta Lotr crew to make it.....that could be a blast.

Or the guys that made Starship Troopers 1 or 3, man those were awesome funny movies.

Could be centred around a IG company composed of men and women, that takes care of the love story and the human aspect people can relate to. Perhaps based on a Cain book to include some humour. Space marines could make an appearance for the win as the elite strike force in the final climactic battle. Tau and/or Eldar would be good opponents with their great looking units.

God no it wouldn't make a good movie! It would end up being some terrible bolter porn thing with the Imperium portrayed as the good guys in all cases. People would get annoyed because it wouldn't show their army's bit, for example, the word bearers vs the ultra marines. The hobbit has been made into 3 movies and covers all points in the book nicely. Can you imagine a 20 odd HH books even fitting into 5 movies? roughly four books a movie, giving them about 40mins each if you make the movie three hours long

 scommy wrote:
Ya if they could get the Weta Lotr crew to make it.....that could be a blast.

Or the guys that made Starship Troopers 1 or 3, man those were awesome funny movies.

Could be centred around a IG company composed of men and women, that takes care of the love story and the human aspect people can relate to. Perhaps based on a Cain book to include some humour. Space marines could make an appearance for the win as the elite strike force in the final climactic battle. Tau and/or Eldar would be good opponents with their great looking units.

Agreed with this Marines should be whispered about and glimpsed. a whole movie or TV series based on their exploits would get tedious pretty quickly.

Besides. The one key factor against a movie or TV series (excluding appeal tio a wider audience) are merchandising rights.

Film or TV studios are not going to get into bed with a company who currently refuse to licence their IP.

It depends on how they would go about approaching the franchise. A TV series would allow for more time and character development. Also, with it being done right you could do really get the whole story out there. However, if interest wains and passes before the story is complete you may have a problem. Also, with the various companies vising for their piece of the pie. A series of films would be nice if done right as well. But, the same problems persist. Also, you're working with a limited time for the film. There is no chance of a live film unless its IG. Space Marines just can't be done except for in CG. The quality of the CG will have to be on par with Space Marine game.

 AlphaFreds wrote:

Would the Heresy make a good film franchise?

Maybe. But I doubt anyone except us fans would understand it.

40k (or 30k for this matter) would make for smashing movies, but I think the HH would be better as a tv series.
That would offer a chance for people unfamiliar with the universe to be introduced. They would also be able to fit more of the books into it.
To make it even more interesting, they could even have a Imperial Army protagonist.