When people think of Henry Cavill, the image that often comes to mind is of a chiseled, charismatic Hollywood leading man—Superman, Geralt of Rivia, or a sharply dressed action hero from Mission: Impossible. But beneath the blockbuster stardom lies a man who geeks out just as hard as the rest of us. His obsession? Warhammer 40,000—the dark, intricate, and gloriously brutal tabletop universe created by Games Workshop.

For Cavill, Warhammer isn’t a passing celebrity interest. It’s been a part of his life since he was ten years old.

🧠 A Secret Hobby—Until Recently
In interviews, Cavill has admitted that it took him “a while to kind of confess to openly and publicly” that he’s a Warhammer fan. As niche as tabletop gaming once was, there’s always been a stigma attached—especially for someone in the spotlight. But now? He’s proudly out of the nerd closet.

“I’ve been involved in the Warhammer world for forty thousand years… No, longer—depending on how you look at it.”
— Henry Cavill, joking during an interview.

🖌️ From Spray Paint to Strategy: Cavill the Hobbyist
Cavill doesn’t just read the lore—he lives it. He builds, paints, and plays. His armies? Currently the Adeptus Custodes—elite golden warriors who serve as the Emperor’s bodyguards. And coming up? He’s eyeing the Necrons, an ancient race of skeletal machine-beings bent on galactic domination.

“Do you paint them yourself?”
“I do, yes.”
“That’s so cool.”
“It is. But I can only really be one. Once I’m one, then I can’t be others…”
Painting miniatures is an art—and one Cavill takes seriously. Like many hobbyists, he owns “a collection of white undercoat spray paint” lurking in a cupboard, tools of the trade that only real fans would recognize. And yes, he’s the guy who gets excited by the “smell of paint in the kitchen”—a sense memory instantly triggering nostalgia for anyone who’s spent late nights hunched over tiny plastic warriors.

🎲 More Than Toys—A World of Deep Lore
Warhammer 40K is a universe filled with towering heroes, corrupt empires, and ancient evils. And Cavill is deeply immersed in its lore. Whether it’s grimdark novels or army codices, the Witcher actor consumes this material for fun.

“All the reading I do outside of work is normally based around [Warhammer] or fantasy authors,” he says.
His level of immersion is so deep that, while on set, he’s been known to spot lore references in unexpected places. During one shoot, he found himself staring at a chandelier and biting his tongue.

“That chandelier looks like a Blackstone Fortress,” he finally confessed in an interview.
“And I knew no one on set would get the reference, so I kept it to myself. But I had to say it somewhere!”
That’s not a casual comment. That’s the mind of a man living in the universe.

🎮 Gaming on the Go
When he’s not painting or filming, Cavill turns to video games to stay connected to the Warhammer universe. He’s a fan of Total War: Warhammer II—a game he enjoys for its easy “jump-in-jump-out” flexibility while traveling.

He’s also a big admirer of games like The Witcher 3 and the Total War series more broadly, showing a strong preference for narrative depth and strategy over shallow action.

🎥 A Dream Come True: Live-Action Warhammer?
With Cavill’s reputation as a devoted fan and his proven talent as a producer (notably in The Witcher), it was only a matter of time before the idea of a Warhammer live-action project took shape. In late 2022, it was confirmed that Henry Cavill is not only starring in but also executive producing an upcoming Warhammer 40,000 cinematic universe for Amazon Studios.

But Cavill has made one thing clear: authenticity is non-negotiable.

“If it were to ever happen… I would have to be very aware of that [character choice]. There are so many rich stories. I suppose I could play one character in the 40K universe and a different one in the Fantasy universe… but I’d want to do it right.”
He’s floated the idea of playing a Primarch, or perhaps the Captain-General of the Custodes—both roles that require a commanding presence and deep lore understanding. And let’s be honest: if anyone could bring the grimdark to life with sincerity and gravitas, it’s Cavill.

🤝 Finding His People
Despite years of hiding his fandom, Cavill has now found his tribe—and fans couldn’t be more thrilled. Interviewers geek out with him. Co-stars are now asking to be invited over for tabletop sessions. And the Warhammer fanbase itself, long hungry for mainstream recognition, has embraced him as one of their own.

“One of your hobbies is painting.”
“That makes me sound weird.”
“You have more hobbies than the average man.”
Maybe. But Cavill’s open geekery is part of what makes him so beloved. He doesn’t perform fandom for the cameras—he lives it. And that sincerity has turned him into the ultimate ambassador for Warhammer 40,000.

💬 Final Thoughts
Henry Cavill isn’t just a fan of Warhammer—he’s its champion. From painting miniatures at home to developing an entire cinematic universe, his devotion has become one of the most unexpected and wholesome turns in modern pop culture.

And if everything goes right, the world will soon witness the birth of a live-action Warhammer saga—with a true fan leading the charge.

For the Emperor? For the fans?
How about both.