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Dudeface wrote:
The other big sci-fi franchise with a whole heap of potential to recently bag a TV series was halo, which turned out to be passable at best if you didn't know about the franchise and outright bad if you cared about the setting.

From everything I saw, it also didn't stick to the source material, had the Master Chief with his helmet off most of the time, invented new bad guys from nothing, and then killed the main character at the end. In other words, it went further off the script than even The Witcher has.

Any wonder it got a poor reception. Didn't matter that it was a TV show.

 ratlaw wrote:

 oni wrote:
I doubt the show will have Space Marines in it. It will most likely be based on the Inquisition or possibly a Rogue Trader. Basically, something that can be done with only humans and no large battles.

I think your correct but...what if the show is a success...look at what there now doing in the Star Wars universe...there touching on everything from baby Yoda, Mando's, Jedi, Rebel soilders, x-wing show coming out soon, etc...the Space Marine debacle WILL, come into play sooner or later.

Star Wars started out self-contained with room for expansion, but when it comes down to it they featured and blew up the frigging Death Star in the first movie. There's hardly anywhere left to go from there. It says something that they ended the trilogy with another Death Star and put the Emperor on it so as not to make it a full rehash of a resolved plot.

That's how I see Primaris which come with the baggage of the post rift galaxy. Remember that GW's first draft for moving into that era had Abaddon blow up Cadia, set the galaxy on fire and then take a hundred year vacation because his job was done and there was nowhere left to go but Terra, which comes with so, so many problems even GW's ace cadre of writers knew better than to go there.

I think GW might be better served with emulating the MCU if they're actually aiming high and want to make an ongoing cinematic universe. The MCU started far smaller and worked towards high points where separate plotlines came together down the line. Even if you don't focus on retelling significant story advancements from the last thirty years on screen, there is something to be said for having things like the rift forming as significant events that add drama to your show by changing the landscape significantly. And if you want that, you have to start earlier.

Which is my vote went for the Firstborn first option. GW needs a story that works on its own to draw in and retain viewers, but if they start at the highest escalation level they're writing themselves into a corner for no good reason. Better to give themselves time and develop things slowly towards the high points.

 Mr Morden wrote:
I am not expecting Marines in at all

GW made a hoopla about a Marine getting dressed and if they now manage to go full Hollywood with their IP, you don't expect their best seller to feature in any capacity at all? That's bold.

Eisenhorn might indeed work as a start. I think trying to aim for "40K is so over the top, my chainsaw's got chainsaws in it" would not work well on the big screen, bombastic action bores me to tears these days.

SW: Andor has been a recent highlight for me, it proved "there's still hope", but I don't think we'll get anything like that from Amazon. Skulls on skulls on skulls, feat Henry Cavil.. oh man I don't even want to think about it

Did I vote on the poll? flock no, I don't want to see more Marines.. They will not be MKVI killing protesting civvies anyway, so not my cuppa

As great as Andor is, even if GW could pull something like that off (and consider that Andor doesn't exist without context, unlike a 40k show that has no similar material for reference), I'm not sure they'd want to. Action, bolter porn and bombastic vistas are a significant part of 40k's design. The foundation of the setting is much easier found in its artwork than its stories. Yeah, sure, Rynn's World has a story attached to it, but do you think of that first or does the Rogue Trader cover art with the Crimson Fists' last stand come to mind instead?

I don't think you'll get around action and eye candy not just because that sells to various sections of the audience (I may be old and "sophisticated", but I still like fireworks just fine ), but because GW would recognize the part it played in making 40k successful in the past. There's no reason to deviate from it as a baseline. Once you have plenty of that like Star Wars does, an Andor equivalent is reasonable. Just like we have Warhammer Crime and Horror now as subsections of Black Library's output. That didn't happen without establishing a foundation first.

An Inquisitor show (be it Eisenhorn or something else) is easy on the budget and I'm sure that's a consideration, but I have my doubts that GW would want to miss out on bombastic CGI moments for something that needs to sell a new audience on the setting. You need some representation of what makes 40k 40k so that if the first effort is successful, any followup that then revolves around bolter porn doesn't have the audience up in arms over changing the show to something that, in their view, it is not. To once again use that phrase, as great as Andor is, if that was your only exposure to Star Wars and you then switched to the force wielding maniacs before the end of the Republic, I'm sure you'd see a lot of people wondering what's going on with their beloved setting.

I also vote for no Astartes, maybe a glimpse of them and a limit on war and battles (so no cliche war movie about how being a soldier sucks, how you love your brothers in arms and all this stuff we've seen in a myriad movies already presented in exactly the same way every single time). More intrigue, politics (even local), factions vying for supremacy. The kind of stories you get in books like "Fire&Faith" or "For the Emperor".

 Nevelon wrote:
Honestly they can just not address the issue. Marines are marnies, and use whatever kit/gear/armor marks fit the missions/story or look good.

Well one needs to be head taller than the other.

I want a single space marine towards the end of the season to act as the "Avengers Assemble" moment when all hope seems lost and helps save the day.

And then the marine gets splatted early on is S2E1 to remind everyone how 40k works.

 Afrodactyl wrote:
I want a single space marine towards the end of the season to act as the "Avengers Assemble" moment when all hope seems lost and helps save the day.

And then the marine gets splatted early on is S2E1 to remind everyone how 40k works.

Here's the most recent reminder of how 40k works, from yesterday's Warhammer Community article about Abaddon:

GW wrote:Even Marneus Calgar was laid low by the Warmaster, though an Aeldari raid on his flagship caused him to retreat just a second before landing the killing blow.

I think I'll leave it at that.

I guess it depends when the show takes place. Post Indomitus Crusade -> Primaris, Pre Indominitus Crusade -> Firstborn.


I would love the show to be a unique IP, and not based of an existing story. Adapting other written works always has issues, I think a unique story in the setting would be a cool thing to do.

Not every new interpretation of an old setting has to be a terribly written shitshow like ST: Discovery. You can also have an incredible show like Strange New Worlds. So I remain curious and hopeful for now .

But, I don't think Space Marines should/ will feature heavily at first so I didn't vote.

The show shouldn't even have space marines as the main backdrop. Should do inquisition which will allow them to introduce more factions/ themes slowly and also not blow the entire budget on CGI. A space marine should only show up at the closing of a movie or the final episode of a series and be like vadar at the end of rogue one. Show up kill everything and be 10x more powerful then anything you have seen on screen up until that point

Asmodios wrote:
The show shouldn't even have space marines as the main backdrop. Should do inquisition which will allow them to introduce more factions/ themes slowly and also not blow the entire budget on CGI. A space marine should only show up at the closing of a movie or the final episode of a series and be like vadar at the end of rogue one. Show up kill everything and be 10x more powerful then anything you have seen on screen up until that point

And even then, a traitor marine would probably be the best option to really give it that extra bit of grimdark doom (I'm assuming our protagonist are on the loyalist side). Make it a cliff hanger with one of those two-parter episodes (one on each side of the season divide) that I typically associate with Star Trek.

DeadliestIdiot wrote:

Asmodios wrote:
The show shouldn't even have space marines as the main backdrop. Should do inquisition which will allow them to introduce more factions/ themes slowly and also not blow the entire budget on CGI. A space marine should only show up at the closing of a movie or the final episode of a series and be like vadar at the end of rogue one. Show up kill everything and be 10x more powerful then anything you have seen on screen up until that point

And even then, a traitor marine would probably be the best option to really give it that extra bit of grimdark doom (I'm assuming our protagonist are on the loyalist side). Make it a cliff hanger with one of those two-parter episodes (one on each side of the season divide) that I typically associate with Star Trek.

I agree. If I was in charge of the project id have the entire first season falling in love with a badass elite inquisition strike team. Grow to love the character and get invested in them just to all die in the last 30 seconds to a single chaos space marine.

Edit: think kind of like the first book in ASOFAI you meet the starks, learn about the world, learn about the family and then bam most of them are dying to show you the grim reality of the world

I'd be surprised if there aren't Space Marines.

I guess my view - even as someone who doesn't like Marines - is that bolter porn works. Marines are also a core part of the franchise. Its a power fantasy and half, probably more than half, of Black Library books work on that premise.

The danger of "Badass elite inquisition strike team" is that its too sort of specific. Its potentially too distant from 40k for some fans - but also off-putting for new audiences. And, moreover, it doesn't obviously help GW flog more plastic.

On paper with a good writer and good cast you can make it work - but that sort of applies to anything. See how some of the bazillion Horus Heresy books are good while others are very boring.

Am I missing something or didn't they mention way back in 2020 that the new show would just be "Eisenhorn" the series? IE- No marines. Unless of the spikey variety.

There won't be Space Marines in it, beyond the cameo/easter egg level. The CGI would cost too much, marines are boring characters, and nobody has solved the "Space Marines look stupidly cartoonish irl" dilemma. You might get a helmet and upper body communicating via a vid screen, or see the aftermath of their handiwork, etc. but there will not be any marines running around as major characters.

Non of the above...

 Dekskull wrote:
I just don't want them to do a TV show.

Seriously if this thing gets too popular Disney will buy it and then it will be all over.

Same here...Guess what I just read...that f'en Vin Diesel is up for some role in the new Warhammer 40k show...it's already ruined in my eyes...what do you think about that,all...f'en Vin Diesel...I MEAN COME ON!

I agree with you on Amazon. They did support the Expanse so I appreciate that.

I'm just afraid of 40K getting too big.


I agree though. No space marines please. They should draw from Wrath and Glory, Darktide, and the Eisenhorn trilogy for inspiration.

From WANG? WANG of all games?

Let's go with Dark Heresy first...

 ratlaw wrote:
Same here...Guess what I just read...that f'en Vin Diesel is up for some role in the new Warhammer 40k show...it's already ruined in my eyes...what do you think about that,all...f'en Vin Diesel...I MEAN COME ON!

Lord Inquisitor Fahm Lee.

That's who he's playing.

 ratlaw wrote:

 Dekskull wrote:
I just don't want them to do a TV show.

Seriously if this thing gets too popular Disney will buy it and then it will be all over.

Same here...Guess what I just read...that f'en Vin Diesel is up for some role in the new Warhammer 40k show...it's already ruined in my eyes...what do you think about that,all...f'en Vin Diesel...I MEAN COME ON!

Vin will be perfectly hammy for a 40k show though. Why the hate? He already did some good sci-fi films.

EviscerationPlague wrote:

 ratlaw wrote:

 Dekskull wrote:
I just don't want them to do a TV show.

Seriously if this thing gets too popular Disney will buy it and then it will be all over.

Same here...Guess what I just read...that f'en Vin Diesel is up for some role in the new Warhammer 40k show...it's already ruined in my eyes...what do you think about that,all...f'en Vin Diesel...I MEAN COME ON!

Vin will be perfectly hammy for a 40k show though. Why the hate? He already did some good sci-fi films.

Yeah, as a CGI tree alien with variations on 1 line....

ccs wrote:

EviscerationPlague wrote:

 ratlaw wrote:

 Dekskull wrote:
I just don't want them to do a TV show.

Seriously if this thing gets too popular Disney will buy it and then it will be all over.

Same here...Guess what I just read...that f'en Vin Diesel is up for some role in the new Warhammer 40k show...it's already ruined in my eyes...what do you think about that,all...f'en Vin Diesel...I MEAN COME ON!

Vin will be perfectly hammy for a 40k show though. Why the hate? He already did some good sci-fi films.

Yeah, as a CGI tree alien with variations on 1 line....

The Riddick series.

Vertigo Entertainment has made a lot of movies going back a couple decades. Taking a look at their experience, I see plenty of horror movies, and a handful of other things, like the various LEGO movies.

This tells me that they don't have a ton of experience doing big CGI + Live action flicks like Marvel and DC movies.

I'm sure we'll start pretty grounded with guardsmen, inquisitors, and stuff like that.

 Altruizine wrote:

ccs wrote:

EviscerationPlague wrote:

 ratlaw wrote:

 Dekskull wrote:
I just don't want them to do a TV show.

Seriously if this thing gets too popular Disney will buy it and then it will be all over.

Same here...Guess what I just read...that f'en Vin Diesel is up for some role in the new Warhammer 40k show...it's already ruined in my eyes...what do you think about that,all...f'en Vin Diesel...I MEAN COME ON!

Vin will be perfectly hammy for a 40k show though. Why the hate? He already did some good sci-fi films.

Yeah, as a CGI tree alien with variations on 1 line....

The Riddick series.

He's also legit good films despite the silliness of F&F (though it's supposed to be silly). Has anyone seen Find Me Guilty?

Perhaps A single space marine, primaris or otherwise is the way to go. Personally I reckon having Cavil play Cain is the way to go. Maybe following Amberly along on one of her inquisitor exploits, with a bunch of weirdos hanging aroung, including a space marine of some sort. Lets GW cover more bases faction wise, have the cast be mostly human and usually the action will be smaller. What with all the subterfuge and all.

If they want a big setpiece, a horde of genestealer cults or nurgle zombies.

Realistically this is the best shot for 40k to hit mainstream as far as Television/movies goes. If I were in charge I would be pitching the Horus Heresy as the show. You're talking multiple seasons easily, you are talking a lot of depth and creative freedom. You could pick and choose which elements of the story you want to put on screen and use voice over intros and quick one off shorts to explain plot while hyper focusing on the particular story you want to show....Its literally got the best chance to catch the eye of the general populace and become huge.

No overt Marine wXXkery.

Series 1. Planetary based show.

Series 2. System wide with added races and Big Bad(s). Ship Battles. Mass Humanity etc.

Series 3 onwards. Picks up on lore drops and mentions of Astartes from S1 and 2. With the possible culmination featuring Deathwatch and or GK.

Feature Space Hulks, Craft Worlds, Webway shennanigans, Stealer Cults. Tau Expansion, Rogue Traders, Chaotic Corruption.

Further on add in full on Astartes Planetary assault.

Onto series cancellation.

This really isn't "a huge question" at all, it's an extremely niche bit of background information that's completely irrelevant to any sort of storytelling concerns.

I'm in complete agreement with everyone who's said the focus needs to be nowhere near Marines.

 ratlaw wrote:

 Dekskull wrote:
I just don't want them to do a TV show.

Seriously if this thing gets too popular Disney will buy it and then it will be all over.

Same here...Guess what I just read...that f'en Vin Diesel is up for some role in the new Warhammer 40k show...it's already ruined in my eyes...what do you think about that,all...f'en Vin Diesel...I MEAN COME ON!

Vinnie would be ideal for a Speed Freak cast. Low-lifers stealin´ stuff, blowin´ stuff up an´ spouting one-liners without shame into the camera.