Games Workshop Announces New Emphasis on Entertainment

Turner Broadcasting and Hasbro Studios executive Finn Arnesen has been named head of entertainment development for Games Workshop, overseeing growth on the "Warhammer" franchise.

License Global

March 12, 2021

Spanning thousands of novels and short stories, with countless characters that resonate with audiences everywhere, Finn Arnesen is now tasked with bringing the universe of leading table-top game “Warhammer” to live-action and animated content for broadcast and streaming platforms worldwide.

“In its almost 40-year history, ‘Warhammer’ has been a leader in the field of table-top and video gaming, growing into one of the most fully realized examples of fantasy and sci-fi world-building ever devised,” says Jon Gillard, executive vice president, global licensing, Games Workshop. “The characters we’ve explored and stories we’ve told during that time, through games, books, comics and more, are crying out to be brought to the screen. Getting Finn on board, with his wealth of expertise and knowledge across both programming and wider IP use, combined with his sheer energy and passion, will continue to cement ‘Warhammer’ as one of the most unique and distinctive fantasy settings ever.”

“This is a hugely

exciting time to be joining Games Workshop, and I am relishing the opportunity to work with such an established yet, in terms of entertainment, relatively unexplored universe as ‘Warhammer,’” says Finn Arnesen, head, entertainment, Games Workshop. “There is a tremendous appetite at present for series set in unique, fantastical worlds, so, with ‘Warhammer’s’ thousands of stories, numerous worlds and countless memorable characters, our options are virtually limitless. I was delighted to discover there are already early discussions in place with a variety of production companies around the world, from LA to Japan, and an array of highly sought-after writing talent, to bring the vast ‘Warhammer’ universe to all platforms.”

“Over the decades, ‘Warhammer’ has attracted the most dedicated and passionate fans of any gaming and publishing franchises,” says Andy Smilie, executive vice president, digital, community, Games Workshop. “Every day, they reach out, asking for more ways to enjoy ‘Warhammer.’ This new project will offer ‘Warhammer’ fans everywhere rich, unique content to meet their insatiable demand. Combined with the mainstream entertainment strategy, we will soon be successfully delivering more ‘Warhammer,’ more often, in multiple ways for dedicated and casual fans alike.”

With content titles inspired by the Eisenhorn series of novels already in production with Big Light Productions and the Warhammer Animation Team working with global studios on new animated content for the Warhammer Community, Arnesen is inheriting an exciting new start to the brand, which will now benefit from the executive’s 25 years’ experience.