Henry Cavill’s Secret Project Could Topple the MCU — So Why No Update After 3 Years?

Every time someone brings up Henry Cavill's biggest passion project, everyone assumes it's Warhammer 40K. Fair. That was the big headline almost three years ago when the live-action adaptation first hit the trades, and it set off a wave of hype. Since then? Radio silence on actual footage or promos. Here's why that makes sense, and why it also kind of stings.

Where this all started

The project popped up in the trades nearly three years ago, with Amazon teaming up with Games Workshop to build out Warhammer 40,000 for live action. Since then, both sides have said they're still moving it forward. But no trailers, no casting rollouts, nothing tangible. For a franchise people fantasize could be the next mega-universe, that gap gets loud.

So what's the holdup?

Short answer: it's huge, it's complicated, and the main guy has a packed calendar. Longer answer:

• Scope and rights wrangling: The 40K universe is massive, and Amazon and Games Workshop are deep in the contracting and legal phase. That's normal for a big IP, but this one is extra thorny because 40K spans tabletop, novels, and decades of lore. Reports have said this part alone will take time, and that tracks.
• Games Workshop is protective (and doing great): GW has been reporting record profits in 2025 and treats Warhammer like the crown jewels. They want the adaptation to represent the brand at its absolute best. Translation: nothing moves without a pile of approvals.
• Henry Cavill's schedule: Cavill isn't just producing. He's also booked solid as an actor. He said his focus is on the Highlander reboot right now. He even picked up an injury while prepping, which pushed that shoot a few weeks. Dave Bautista, who plays the villain in Highlander, said filming is slated to restart by November 28. All of that knocks Warhammer timing around.

Why the wait might actually help (and also hurt)

The upside: taking the time to get the lore right matters here. Games Workshop knows their audience expects fidelity, and Cavill famously cares about that stuff. If the paperwork phase is this meticulous, the final product could reflect that same care and obsession.

The downside: momentum fades. The hobby is still niche, and while the core tabletop crowd will wait forever, the newer and more casual fans who got excited off the initial announcement are getting itchy. Without updates, people move on. The buzz that started three years back isn't what it was.

When should we actually expect it?

There is no official release date yet. The current expectation floating around is mid-2027 to early 2028, and it would land on Prime Video. That sounds about right if you factor in the heavyweight contracts, development time, and Cavill's Highlander window.

Bottom line: this is a slow-cook project. Painful, sure. But with Warhammer 40K, rushing it would be worse. If they stick the landing, the wait will make sense. If they don't, well... that will be a whole different story.