Games Workshop readies Warhammer’s move into film and TV as Finn Arnesen joins as Head of Entertainment Development

Games Workshop has welcomed Finn Arnesen as the firm’s first Head of Entertainment Development.

Reporting into Jon Gillard – Games Workshop’s EVP of Global Licensing – Arnesen is tasked with developing live action and animated content around the Warhammer universe for broadcast channels and platforms around the globe.

Arnesen was most recently SVP global distribution and development at Hasbro Studios, and prior to that spent over 15 years with Turner Broadcasting.

“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,” said Arnesen.

“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.”

Jon Gillard added: “In its almost 40-year history, Warhammer has been a leader in the field of tabletop and video gaming, growing into one of the most fully realised examples of fantasy and sci-fi world-building ever devised. 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.”