Amazon Taps Streaming Boom Via Games Workshop Deal For Warhammer Films

Fantasy war game miniatures maker Games Workshop inked a deal with Amazon.Com Inc AMZN to make films and TV programs based on its characters. The financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed.
Games Workshop said Amazon would develop its intellectual property into film and television productions. It will also grant merchandising rights to the U.S. company, beginning with the "Warhammer 40,000" universe.
The deal underscores Amazon's push to capitalize on a streaming boom and take on rivals, including HBO Max and Netflix, Inc NFLX, Reuters reports.
Warhammer 40,000, or 40k, is a sci-fi universe set in humanity's 'grimdark' future, Bloomberg reports.
The Games Workshop franchise already includes popular tabletop games and over 300 novels and has licensed its content for several successful video games.
Superman star Henry Cavill will likely star in the production.
Games workshop made no change to its forecast for the period ending May 2023.
Amazon prepared to spend over $1 billion a year to produce movies it will release in theaters following MGM's $8.5 billion acquisition.
Andrew Wade, an analyst at Jefferies, noted that licensing income had built strongly in recent years. "A mainstream TV/film product could be game-changing in terms of Warhammer's brand reach and awareness."
Price Action: AMZN shares traded lower by 0.45% at $88.05 in the premarket on the last check Friday.