Warhammer 40 000 has had a few adaptations over the years, such as video games, comics, and audio dramas, but aside from a couple of now obscure short films, there has yet to be a live-action adaptation of the franchise. There have been plans for an Eisenhorn adaptation but there has been no news on that front, and this leaves a question. Besides Eisenhorn, what would be the best story to adapt to live-action?
After spending some time thinking on the matter, one novel came to the forefront and that is The Emperor’s gift. This may sound like an odd choice, but there is a valid reason for it. The Emperor’s Gift is in fact an excellent introduction to many aspects of the lore of 40K.
The book, which covers the first war of Armageddon and the subsequent event known as the Months of Shame, would do an excellent job introducing the basics of the setting, such as chaos, the space marines, the inquisition and how everything is handled. There is a tendency to try and have a clear protagonist in many movies and tv shows, but The Emperor’s Gift would perfectly showcase the grey and grey morality of the 40K setting.
The war of Armageddon would be a beginner’s introduction to Chaos with the Khornate invasion of the world, and the introduction of the Primarchs as well, with Angron as a villain. The Space Wolves and the Grey Knights would serve as the introduction to the space marines, and show that they are not all the same, and have very different cultures. The Months of Shame would then show the different approaches the Imperium of man takes towards threats, with the Inquisition feeling those on the world of Armageddon need to be dealt with for possibly being exposed to chaos and the Space Wolves wanting to protect the survivors of the war.
This last part may sound like a clear case of good guy and bad guy, but as with all things 40K, it is not that simple. The book went into detail showing both sides having a point and both sides acting in the wrong at times, with many in the inquisition second-guessing their actions and the infighting that occurred. This would be a great way to emphasize the grimdark aspect of 40K, without going overboard in trying to portray everything as horrible, as some writers have done with questionable results.
The best way to do this adaptation would be as a miniseries, allowing the story to be shown in full, from the battles of the war of Armageddon to the final confrontation between the space wolves and the inquisition. It is too large of a story to be told as a movie, and a miniseries would serve as a great way to test audience interest in further adaptations of 40K stories.
Disclaimer: The above was an editorial and solely the view of the writer.
Storm of Iron – not the best book, but has a relatively simple plot and would introduce the Imperial Guard and Titans, and Chaos Marines and Space Marines. Highlighting the differences between them as they enter the fray for the first time. And Daemons. It also has a great subplot about the bureaucratic evil of the imperium with an unlikely underdog hero.
Necropolis by Dan Abnett would also be a decent choice, with a short prequel strapped to the front obviously. Probably flashbacks to the fall of Tanith to introduce the Ghosts/Imperial Guard. The book has a bit of everything, stories of individuals crawling through the rubble to Generals leading heroic charges or dying in almost pointless last stands. Every aspect of the meatgrinder that is 40k. Bit of political intrigue, some corruption and cowardice and a big showy standoff at the end. Stakes are simple, sides are easily distinguished. great intro book. Doesnt have Space Marines but they could easily be subbed in on both sides. Titans too