The Warhammer 40k TV shows are a growing pile of animated and live-action series set in the grim darkness of the 41st millennium. They matter because they’re how most newcomers now meet the setting, and how Games Workshop is pushing the franchise beyond the tabletop.
What actually counts as a Warhammer 40k TV show
There’s no single channel or studio behind these. Some are short animated films, some are ongoing series, and a few are lore or hobby shows rather than drama. Most live on Warhammer+, Games Workshop’s own streaming service, which launched in 2021.
The big upcoming one is the live-action Warhammer 40,000 series, a coproduction between Games Workshop and Amazon. It’s been in development since 2022 and hasn’t aired yet, so treat any cast or plot rumours with caution.
- Angels of Death: Blood Angels Space Marines against a creeping alien threat
- Hammer and Bolter: anthology, different factions each episode
- Pariah Nexus: Imperial survivors on a shrine world overrun by Necrons
- The Exodite: a T’au expedition trying to spread the Greater Good
- Interrogator: a hive-city thriller down in the underhive
- The Tithes: three self-contained stories about the Imperial Tithe
- Kill Lupercal: a Warlord Titan crew during the Siege of Terra
- Astartes and Astartes II: fan-made animation that went official
- Ultramarines: the 2010 CGI movie, now a cult curiosity
Warhammer+ and the streaming side
Warhammer+ is where most of these shows debut first. It also carries Loremasters, a lore explainer series, and Deep Strike, which goes behind the scenes on animations and games.
Not everything is fiction. Scribes & Scriveners chats with Black Library authors about their writing, and Armies of Renown is about painting and converting miniatures. That mix is deliberate: it’s a hobby hub as much as a TV service.
How the shows connect to the wider lore
Each series tends to pick one corner of the setting rather than the whole galaxy. That makes them useful entry points. Watch Pariah Nexus and you learn what Necrons and shrine worlds are. Watch The Exodite and you get the T’au perspective.
Some tie directly into famous events. Kill Lupercal is set during the Siege of Terra, the climax of the Horus Heresy, so it’s aimed at fans who already know that story. Others, like Interrogator, work as standalone crime stories with 40k dressing.
| Series | Focus | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Angels of Death | Blood Angels | Animated series |
| Hammer and Bolter | Mixed factions | Anthology |
| Pariah Nexus | Necrons vs Imperium | Animated series |
| The Exodite | T’au Empire | Animation |
| Interrogator | Underhive thriller | Animated series |
| Kill Lupercal | Siege of Terra | Animation |
| The Tithes | Imperial Tithe | Anthology |
Why it matters for the franchise
For decades 40k lived in rulebooks, novels and games. TV and film give it a visual canon that doesn’t depend on you owning miniatures. That’s a big shift for how new fans get pulled in.
It’s also a testing ground. Short, cheap animations let Games Workshop try factions and tones before committing to something bigger, like the Amazon live-action project.
Key facts
- Warhammer+ launched in 2021 and hosts most 40k animated series
- Angels of Death and Hammer and Bolter were among the first originals
- The Exodite follows a T’au expedition, a rare non-Imperial viewpoint
- Kill Lupercal is set during the Siege of Terra
- A live-action Amazon coproduction is in development but unreleased
- Astartes began as a fan project before becoming official
FAQ
Where can I watch the Warhammer 40k TV shows?
Most of them are on Warhammer+, Games Workshop’s own streaming service. A few, like the original Astartes shorts, started free on YouTube before being brought in-house.
Is there a live-action Warhammer 40k series?
Yes, one is in development as a Games Workshop and Amazon coproduction. It hasn’t been released, and details are still thin.
Do I need to know the lore to enjoy them?
Not really. Most series are written to stand alone, though ones tied to big events like the Siege of Terra land harder if you know the background.
Are the shows canon?
They’re official Games Workshop productions, so they sit within the setting, but they’re self-contained stories rather than required reading for the tabletop.