[Athas]

What are they supposedly trying to do with Warhammer (40k)? I am aware that Amazon has the rights and are working on developing something, but apart from the Secret Level episode (which was good), has there been any details?

While some of what Amazon has made is terrible, much is good. They produce so much that the average quality is pretty close to the global average, so I find predictions challenging.

[chuckadams]

Just Warhammer, not 40K. I would turn my mother over to the Inquisition to get to see the latter. Venerate the Immortal Emperor!

[upghost]

The rage bait on the internet claims they are changing the lore to accommodate DEI. Don't shoot the messenger plz. I'm just saying I understand why the creative content owners are concerned about Amazon retconning lore and maybe want to see how things like Warhammer play out first.

[Freak_NL]

It might be a moot point anyway. If we can consider Disney a bellwether¹, expect more content producers to step back on the diversity front.

Personally I think it completely depends on the story and artistic direction. Wolf Hall (casting mostly reflects historical appearances of characters portrayed) can exist next to Bridgerton (explicitly colour-blind casting). Both have their merits.

1: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/dec/18/chanel-stewart-...

[lbcadden3]

Actually Games Workshop started that, probably just being accelerated by Amazon.

[jowday]

I think most rage bait about the Warhammer series is manufactured by content farm channels to generate clicks - the series wasn’t even officially in development until a few weeks ago.

There’s an entire subgenre of YouTube channels that consist solely of creators updating videos promising that they have inside information on the creative conflicts at Lucasfilm/Amazon/etc, all of which happen to align perfectly with whatever the fandom is outraged with that week.

https://youtube.com/@mikezeroh

This guys channel is a great example - most of the channels discussing “female custodes Henry cavil warhammer 40k tv series” Amazon follow a similar format.

Edit:

I’d also add that I don’t think Rings of Power is bad because they cast minorities - most of the actors are fine, really. The plotting and pacing is just horrendous. In a show that has 5+ active plot lines and threads scattered all over the world, they’ve spent a quarter of their screen time on a plot line that’s completely disconnected not just from the lore but from the wider story being told and doesn’t look like it’s going to connect anytime soon. Which is funny, because I’d imagine Amazon execs felt that they were obligated to include that plot line (the Hobbit one) to appease viewers.

[blackeyeblitzar]

Amazon has a diversity team in the entertainment side of business that literally changes casting and content to fit their DEI goals. It often happens in awkward and forced ways, and that is affecting things like this Bond controversy. Most of this is motivated simply by Amazon’s own DEI culture. But part of it is because the award shows have criteria for eligibility (for best picture etc) that require meeting diversity and other requirements that have nothing to do with how entertaining the show is. Since those creating or participating in these shows don’t want to be ineligible, they do whatever it takes, including retconning.

[scarface_74]

I wonder if these are the same people who whined about DC casting a black woman to play an orange alien from Tamaran?

They also criticized Disney for having a Black Captain America in the movies even though it was clear to any Marvel comics fans that this was always going to be the case.

[__alexs]

GW have been trying to add diversity to Warhammer for ages. Most of it is good actually?

[3eb7988a1663]

That Secret Level episode was amazing. Did an excellent job of portraying Space Marines as pinnacle warriors.

[Fomite]

There have not been any details. There have been YouTubers making things up and desperately pretending Henry Cavill is their champion standing bravely against "woke".