Amazon MGM Studios is expanding its Warhammer 40,000 universe with a new animated event series, and Henry Cavill is officially on board as an executive producer. The project, which is being developed alongside the previously announced live-action adaptation, will center on the Deathwatch—an elite unit of Space Marines known for hunting down alien threats across the galaxy.
The animated series is a spinoff of Prime Video’s adult animated anthology Secret Level, which featured a Warhammer 40,000 episode when it debuted in late 2024. Cavill, who is also set to star in and executive produce the live-action Warhammer 40,000 series, is deepening his involvement with the franchise by taking on a creative role behind the scenes for the animated project.
The Deathwatch Takes Center Stage
While exact plot details remain under wraps, the animated series will focus on the Deathwatch, an elite chapter of Space Marines composed of warriors from different chapters who unite to hunt and destroy alien threats across the galaxy. In the Warhammer 40,000 lore, the Deathwatch is a specialized force dedicated to combating xenos—alien species that pose existential dangers to humanity.
The series is being positioned as a long-form story set within the vast Warhammer 40,000 universe. Dave Wilson, who directed the Warhammer 40,000 episode of Secret Level and served as the show’s supervising director, is co-creating and directing the new animated series. Wilson is developing the project alongside John Orloff, whose writing credits include Band of Brothers and Masters of the Air.
“Secret Level wasn’t conceived simply as an anthology. It was designed as a launchpad for larger stories,” said Wilson. “The response to the Warhammer episode was extraordinary, particularly from fans who understood how much care went into getting the world right. This series gives us the opportunity to build on that foundation and tell a much larger story. I’ve wanted to tell a long-form story set in Warhammer 40,000 for more than twenty years, and I’m incredibly grateful to Games Workshop and Amazon MGM Studios for the opportunity to do it.”
Cavill’s Expanding Role in the Warhammer Universe
Henry Cavill’s involvement with the Warhammer 40,000 franchise has been a major talking point since Amazon secured the global rights to the property from Games Workshop in 2022. The actor, a known enthusiast of the tabletop wargame, is now playing a key creative role both in front of and behind the camera.
Cavill recently confirmed through his official Instagram that he will star in the live-action Warhammer 40,000 series, though he has kept the identity of his character a secret. “Who that character is, however, shall remain a secret for now!” Cavill said in his announcement. He also confirmed that Mike Flanagan—known for The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass—has joined the live-action project as the writer.
For the animated series, Cavill is executive producing alongside Natalie Viscuso. The production team also includes Tim Miller, creator of Secret Level, who will executive produce for Blur Studios alongside Wilson. Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment and Andy Smillie from Games Workshop are also attached as executive producers.
A Spinoff of ‘Secret Level’
The animated Warhammer 40,000 series is being developed as a spinoff of Secret Level, Prime Video’s adult animated anthology that premiered in late 2024. Blur Studios, which produced Secret Level, is once again involved in the animation production. Games Workshop, the manufacturer behind the tabletop miniature wargame, is also partnering on the project.
The series is being developed in partnership with Amazon MGM Studios and Games Workshop. It is expected to complement the broader Warhammer 40,000 screen universe currently under development, giving fans another way to engage with the expansive science-fiction franchise as the live-action series moves forward.
Amazon’s Growing Slate of Game Adaptations
The Warhammer 40,000 animated series is the latest addition to Amazon’s expanding portfolio of projects based on video game intellectual property. Prime Video already airs the popular series adaptation of the Fallout video games, and the streamer is currently developing a Tomb Raider live-action show starring Sophie Turner.
Other game-inspired projects in the works at Amazon include a live-action God of War series, a Life Is Strange adaptation, and upcoming shows based on Mass Effect and Wolfenstein. With Cavill playing a significant creative role in the Warhammer 40,000 franchise, Amazon is positioning the property as a major cross-format franchise spanning both live-action and animation.
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What This Means for Warhammer Fans
For fans of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, the announcement of an animated series alongside the live-action adaptation represents a significant expansion of the franchise on screen. The focus on the Deathwatch—a fan-favorite faction within the lore—suggests the series will explore some of the darker, more action-packed corners of the Warhammer 40,000 setting.
The involvement of Dave Wilson and John Orloff, both of whom have experience with high-quality television productions, points to Amazon’s commitment to delivering a series that respects the source material. Wilson’s comments about wanting to tell a long-form Warhammer 40,000 story for over twenty years further underscore the creative passion behind the project.
No release date has been announced for either the animated series or the live-action adaptation. However, with the animated project now in development and the live-action series moving forward with Mike Flanagan attached as writer, the Warhammer 40,000 universe on screen is taking shape.
The animated series will be available exclusively on Prime Video in markets worldwide, consistent with Amazon’s global distribution strategy for its original content. As development continues, more details about the cast, story, and release timeline are expected to emerge.
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