You can take the man out of the forge, but you can’t take the craftsmanship out of the man. Henry Cavill, best known for portraying Superman and Geralt of Rivia, is now juggling a different kind of hero’s journey — one that involves miniatures, lore, and, surprisingly, luxury watches. While promoting his new role as the face of Longines’ Spirit Zulu Time 1925, Cavill opened up to Esquire about the other major project currently consuming his time: bringing Warhammer 40,000 to life at Amazon Studios, his dream project.

“It is a tricky IP, and a very complex IP. And that’s what I love about it. The challenges that come with putting this on the page in a way that is doing justice to that complexity, that trickiness, and that nuance, is a challenge I’m enjoying enormously.”

Cavill, a self-professed Warhammer superfan, is not just starring in the project — he’s executive producing, shaping both the films and TV shows in development for Amazon. It’s a dream gig for the lifelong hobbyist, but even for someone who’s logged hours painting Adeptus Custodes and memorizing the grimdark lore, adapting it for screen hasn’t been easy.

Henry Cavill Is a Warhammer Enthusiast

Fans already know Cavill has been championing the Warhammer universe for years. His hobbyist dedication became a meme during lockdown when he posted a video of himself building a gaming PC, and later confirmed his devotion to painting Warhammer miniatures.

But translating the universe of the Imperium, Chaos, and the ever-war-torn 41st millennium for a general audience? That’s a different battlefield altogether. “This is different from what I’ve done before,” Cavill explained. “I haven’t had my hand on the tiller of things before. It’s wonderful doing that.”

His mission? Do justice to the scale and intricacy of Warhammer‘s universe without watering it down for a mainstream audience.

And what’s funnier for the actor, Cavill found an unexpected overlap between Warhammer and his other new obsession: watches. During a visit to the Longines manufacture in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, the actor marveled at the meticulous process of assembling timepieces, which in his eyes is a task that, like painting Warhammer minis, demands precision, patience, and a steady hand. Clearly a good fit for an obsessive.

“What I was doing required finesse and concentration, and that was only one watch,” Cavill laughed. “It’s more difficult than my level of painting Warhammer.”

Henry Cavill‘s Warhammer 40,000 project is currently in pre-production.

via Collider