In the modern era, it seems like anything popular can be elevated from cult status to the realm of mainstream popularity. That theory has been tested multiple times, but it's about to get its biggest challenge in the form of Games Workshop's iconic tabletop game. After years of popularity, the famously obscure and nerdy hobby of Warhammer might hit the screen.
The Warhammer franchise has been waging an all-out offensive on the world of video games these days. It seems like a matter of time before the grimdark world of 40K takes the big and small screens by storm. If anyone seems destined to make that happen, it'll be Hollywood's biggest fan of the franchise Henry Cavill.
We live in a time of increasing cultural nerdiness. As the world around the hardcore fans of niche properties grows more fascinated with those concepts, those in the smaller communities become more normal by comparison. A few decades ago, the go-to depiction of a nerd read comic books. People who loved sci-fi films could look at the comic fans and say "well, at least I'm not as nerdy as they are." Then, comic books became the basis for all of our most popular media. After that, tabletop role-playing games were the new standard. Comic fans could point at TTRPG weirdos and use the same insults. Now, the most profitable venture on Twitch is a show about voice actors playing Dungeons and Dragons. What do nerds have to point to now? Well, at least we're not the Warhammer 40K guys. Today, we look at one of the most attractive and successful movie stars in human history and ask; can Henry Cavill single-handedly drag Warhammer into the spotlight?
Why is Warhammer such a high watermark of pop-culture esoterica? Partially because of the sheer depth of its lore. One might glance at the Dune novels and think "that seems like a bit too much for me to remember." Some people found themselves quitting Game of Thrones around season four for the same reason. Those people would be well advised to continue their lifelong streak of not getting into Warhammer. It's beyond the realm of overcomplicated science fiction. It pulls a bit from every existing science fiction concept, from the supernatural to the hyper-scientific. The backstory can be explained if the audience has an extra four or five hours to spend. The people who are into Warhammer are extremely into Warhammer. Unlike comics or D&D, it's not really an option to be a casual hobbyist in this particular fandom.
Beyond arguably unnecessary complexity, many people also bounce off of Warhammer because of its hilariously dark tone. Noted science fiction author and conflict journalist Robert Evans once aptly described the Warhammer universe as a reality in which "everyone's worse than Hitler." There are no heroes, everyone is guilty of a million genocides, and nothing is sacred. The lone corner of the universe with an ounce of levity is occupied by Orks, who are as violent as everyone else, but they have fun doing it. The game is difficult to play, the lore is tough to understand, and the tone rides the soft wavy line between heavy metal album covers and outright proto-fascist propaganda. Every aspect of the franchise is dialed up to eleven several times over. This stuff doesn't have mass appeal on its own, a lot of very smart and talented creative people have had to create art that drew in the masses. However, the history of art made in and around the Warhammer universe suggests that Cavill's prospective cinematic universe on the subject could be the new entry point for newcomers and the moment every fan has been waiting for.
Currently, YouTube is the home of any and all Warhammer video content. Fans make tons of interesting animated short films set in the franchise that often improve upon the story laid out by Games Workshop. The real art of Warhammer comes in the novels and the fan works. Cavill is nothing if not a fan. He's locked into the project as the executive producer and the star of the first Warhammer series. If anyone can make this killer whale of a franchise palatable for those who come into the franchise with an extraordinarily low opinion, it's Henry Cavill.
Henry Cavill cares a great deal about lore and respect for the source material of the projects he works on. His desire to bring this franchise to life in the medium he's been working in for twenty years is powerful and inspiring. The world may be looking at the next giant sci-fi mega-franchise. Imagine the cultural upset of Warhammer 40K taking home an Emmy, or outperforming a Marvel show, or dragging fans away from the more established TV legacy franchises. There are strange and grim times ahead, but Henry Cavill might be the one to lead us through them.