The upcoming animatedSecret Levelshow is hoping to perfectly adapt a wide range of game franchises to the TV medium.Prime Video’sSecret Levelcreatorsare developing 15 episodes, which will focus on a wide range of games, includingDungeons & Dragons,Pac-Man,Unreal Tournament, andWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. Several famous actors have signed on, ranging from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Keanu Reeves to Gabriel Luna. The show is expected to premiere on Prime Video on December 10.
In an interview withScreen Rantat New York Comic Con, executive producer and director Dave Wilson opened up about the show and the unique difficulties of its development. When asked about theWarhammerepisode in particular, Wilson referenced the dreary atmosphere, the brutal narrative, and the lack of any true isolated story. Instead,the episode will focus on communicating the toneof the franchise, rather than showcasing any particular point in its story. Check out his full quote below:
I’ll take it, just as I directed it. I think it’s very difficult with an IP like Warhammer that has been around 40 years to even pick what race and what chapter and et cetera, et cetera. So, what we were hoping to do was, “Let’s embody the tone and the spirit of what it means to be in the grim darkness of the far future.” But, how it varies from the other, I think that would be that we didn’t try and tell a very specific story about one event in a time and a place. It was more like an emotional [point]. We talked about it asa violent totem pole for what Warhammer is. And, to their credit, Games Workshop was very, very on board with that idea, because they understand how would we do service to all our fans, for all those chapters. In how it varies, I think in other cases, like Exodus and franchises that were finding their feet, we want to be a little more specific and play a little bit more in the lane that they were establishing for themselves.
What Wilson’s Comments Mean For Secret Level
The Warhammer Episode Should Be True To The Setting
In isolation, the comments seem to reflect most heavily on theWarhammerepisode. In reality, however, it is an early sign of the show’s development process. The creators chose relatively small franchises from wildly different genres as a means of taking advantage of the anthology format. Since every episode will focus on a different game,they will be bridging genres and tones drastically. Naturally, theMega Manepisode will not share a tonewithPac-ManorSpelunky.TheWarhammercomments are a positive indicator that the creatives are appropriately tailoring each episode to each franchise.
This particular franchise is a dark and dreary narrative that features war, horror, and bloodshed at every level. Though it is not too visible, as the story is told through tabletop games, an animated version of the story needs to reflect that grimdark tone. Everything about the setting is meant to be horrifying and brutal. Even without settling on any specific story, asHenry Cavill’sWarhammer 40kadaptationwill, the episode should be successful as long as it communicates the dreary game’s world.
Our Take On The Secret Level Warhammer Episode
This Could Be A Trial Run For Cavill’s Project
A single episode is a surprisingly good setting for theWarhammerstory. Because of how brutal the world is,it could very easily feel overwhelming for audiencesif they are presented with an entire show that has the same grim tone. SinceCavill’s upcoming movie or showhas not received many updates, this episode could very well offer audiences the opportunity to see for themselves which format they prefer. If they are overwhelmed by the brutality, the project could be overlooked altogether. If it is fully embraced, a long-form show format could be better for the franchise.
Warhammerhas had an adaptation before inUltramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie,but it was a relatively small-scale direct-to-video production.
Warhammer 40khas always been an exceptionally horrifying franchise, which is why it is such a good sign that theSecret Levelcreatorsare taking it seriously. Rather than shying away from the darker elements of the story, they are leaning into the unique tone and attempting to focus on the setting. They are also avoiding particular characters or storylines, which makes a short-term adaptation far simpler. It is the perfect way to format an adaptation and is a good sign for other episodes of the show.
Secret Level
Cast
Secret Level is an adult animated series exploring original short stories set within the worlds of popular video games. Each episode introduces new adventures, delving into iconic gaming classics and forthcoming titles to unlock captivating narratives and immersive experiences. Created by Tim Miller, the series celebrates gaming culture.
