Casting the Primarchs: Picking the Actors we Want in the Warhammer Cinematic Universe
Jinx April 16, 202564
88
64 Likes
Lawrence, James and Beard sit down and talk the big talk in part one of our picks for Casting the Primarchs! We each put our most wanted actors forward and discuss how we think they would fit into the roles of all 18 of the Primarchs in a movie or TV show. Part two coming next week.
🎥 Want even more Tabletop Tactics videos? Check out our website and sign up for On Demand!
📱 Download our App for videos on the go, or to take part in the League! Available on Android and iOS
🎲 Like to roll in style? Tabletop Tactics Merchandise
🛒 For all your hobby and gaming needs, visit Tabletop Tactics’ sponsors Element Games
🛒 Or for our viewers in the US Wargames Portal
🎵 Music is licensed from their respective Artists at Premium Beat
Related View More
Jinx April 22, 202519
18
T’au Empire vs Adeptus Mechanicus | Warhammer 40k Battle Report
Jinx April 19, 202553
17
Astra Militarum vs Tyranids | Warhammer 40k Battle Report
Jinx April 18, 2025171
50
Creating a Monster: Painting Fulgrim and Sculpting THAT Face
Jinx April 17, 2025199
34
Iron Warriors vs Drukhari | Warhammer 40k Battle Report
Jinx April 15, 2025204
113
The Great Game – Warhammer 40k 4-way Battle Report
Jinx April 12, 2025117
59
Emperor’s Children vs Ultramarines | Warhammer 40k Battle Report
Jinx April 10, 2025116
42
Lion El’Jobson – Wyatt Russell
Fulgrim – Timothee Chalomet
Perturabo – Vincent D’Onofrio
Jaghati Khan – Benedict Wong
Leman Russ – Travis Fimmel
Rogal Dorn – Josh Brolin
Konrad Curze – Iwan Rheon
Sanguinius – Lee Pace
Ferrus Manus – Christopher Meloni
Angron – Jon Bernthal
Roboute Guilliman – Viggo Mortensen
Mortarion – Tom Hardy
Magnus – Oscar Isaac
Horus – Mark Strong
Lorgar – Antony Starr
Vulkan – Djimon Honsou
Corvus Corax – Robert Pattinson (The Batman role)
Apharius – James McAvoy
I was thinking Neil Newbon for Fulgrim, crazy? Maybe.
I’m hoping Ron Perlman gets on the lost somewhere. @Spider I think Stellen Skarsgård would make an excellent Malcador.
But I’d have to offer Leman Russ to Kristofer Hivju -Tormund from GoT.
I’ve also always heard Fulgrims voice as Neil Newbon -Astarion from Baldurs Gate 3. Just very theatric and musical.
Cannot overstate how excited I was to hear that James shares my belief R. Pat would be an IMMACULATE Sanguinius. There is no actor working today who is better suited to portray a literal angel who is also constantly consumed by depthless sorrow plus the shadow of a rage he can never show.
I’m surprised neither of you considered Tom Hiddleston (Loki) for Kurze.
Why not just Henry Cavill in various wigs play each one? The Lion: I also had Charles Dance. Fulgrim: I also had Austin Butler. His performance in Dune had this really really strange mix of being terrifying but still somehow sexy. In like this sinister way. I think thats essential to Fulgrim. Perterabo…. I didnt have a pick, I dont know much about the character enough to have a choice. Jaghatai Khan same as perty. Leman Russ: Charlie Hunnam Rogal Dorne: Vinn Diesel Conrad Curze: I had Rob Pattinson for this, but I like all of yours better. Ferrus… Read more »
Tom Hiddleston as Fulgrim without looking at what the cast says. Timothy Chalamet as Sanguinius, Michael Fassbender as the Lion, Christoph Waltz as Lorgar,I dont are for the rules …But Horus MUST be Marlon Brando ;p
Really enjoyed it and looking forward to the next one! Having recently completed a listen to all of the HH audiobooks for the first time… Who would be your pick for Malcador? The voice always grounded me despite all of the varying characters and story lines.
Hoping one of the mentioned actors would show up here in the comments; ”Fine, I’ll do it”. Because obviously they watch TT in preparation for their role 😀
The only primarch I think I’d be dead set on is Mark Strong as Horus. I think he’d be perfect, he can do menacingly evil but has a charisma about him that Horus would need.
I also think Neil Newborn could do a brilliant Fulgrim 🤔 His Astarion had so much range, but had a bit of Fulgrim about him at times
Nicholas Cage is Angron.
No further questions.
Vincent D’Onofrio (Fisk – Daredevil) for abbadon
Dance would be an excellent Luther, imo
Mostly agree with these, but I think JK Simmons would be a perfect Perturabo. Combining the tired, dead inside voice he gives Ketheric Thorme with bursts of Omni Man rage is exactly what I imagine for Peter Turbs
My pick for playing Alpharius/Omegon is Giancarlo Esposito. His portrayal of the enigmatic drug boss (and fried chicken restaurant owner) Gus Fring in Breaking Bad absolutely sealed it for me. He was absolutely terrifying.
“I’ve gone John Bernthal”…
That’s Mads Mikkelson!!!
Lyon El’ Johnson – Charles Dance
Fulgrim – Timothee Chalamet
Perturabo – Vincent D’Onofrio
Khan – Jason Momoa
Leman Russ – Kristofer Hivju
Rogal Dorn – Sean Bean
Konrad Curze – Austin Butler
Sanguinius – Tom Holland
Ferrus Manus – Jon Bernthal
Angron – Noel Fisher
Roboute Guilliman – Alan Ritchson
Mortarion – Rory McCann
Magnus – Oscar Isaac
Horus – Javier Bardem
Lorgar – Tom Felton
Vulkan – Terry Crews
Corvus Corax – Joe Dempsie
Alpharius – Ben Barnes
Mark Strong Either Horus Or Lorgar
Mads Mikkelsen as ether Leman Russ or Konrad Curze
I know he’s unfortunately passed away now but Ray Stevenson would of been the perfect Ferus Mannus
Because I’ve thought far too long about this…
Lyon El’ Johnson – Matt Smith
Fulgrim – Ewan Mitchell
Perturabo – Michael Shannon
Khan – Hiroyuki Sanada
Leman Russ – Sebastian Stan
Rogal Dorn – Josh Brolin
Konrad Curze – Bill Skarsgard
Sanguinius – Robert Pattinson
Ferrus Manus – Pedro Pascal
Angron – Dave Batista
Roboute Guilliman – Michael Fassbender
Alpharius – Antony Starr
Mortarion – Mads Mikkelson
Magnus – Oscar Isaac
Horus – Tom Hardy
Lorgar – Benedict Cumberbatch
Vulkan – Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Corvus Corax – Tom Sturridge
Sanguinius. it would never happen but it would be the biggest shake up of 30k and 40k since forever. Charlize Theron. never in the whole story do they need to allude to fact that the primarchs are either man or woman or neither. i think she has the presence on screen to pull it off and defo has the acting skills to make it work
Joe Taslim could do Khan, some very cool picks which would make great tv viewing and a great show by you gents roll on next week. I’ve just been thinking Angron since the start. Who plays him?
Could Orlando bloom play Sanguinius? it’s a long shot I know.
Pace as Fulgrim would be amazing and I best get my thinking cap on for them all. This may take some time
Mark strong for Horus!! ( gorgeous man with a voice like a god)
Might be a hot take here but: Karl Urban as Leman Russ. I think he definitely can hit the notes of loving violence, savagery, and wildness but also being a secret expert strategist, having strong values on honor and duty, and kingly nature. He absolutely fits the bill of being able to sell arrogance and bravado when he’s outmatched. We also already know he can look a bit wolfish from The Boys. Liked a lot of the other picks and I especially agree on Beard’s pick for Sanguinius! For next week I’m predicting Dave Bautista as a selection for Angron… Read more »
Real question is, in a full cast of the Horus Heresy, who do you cast as Erebus?
I don’t think you’d find a better Konrad Curze than Jared Leto.
Very pale skin, jet black hair, piercing eyes, very thin (almost gaunt), has the beauty of a Primarch but also comes across as unsettling.
Clean shaven with long hair and I think he’d absolutely smash it.
I’m a Night Lords Player. I feel like you all got it right.
The one that sprang to mind was Vincent D’Onofrio as Horus
(But then I have just finished Daredevil…)
Perturabo’s such a hard pick yet you’ve nailed a couple outrageously good choices
Dorn – Kurt Russell when he did Soldier.
You cheeky bastards
Love matt mercer as fulgrim
my picks:
The Lion- Charles Dance
Fulgrim- Tom Ellis
Purturabo- Jon Bernthal
Khan- Tadanobu Asano
Leman Russ- Jensen Ackles
Rogal Dorn- Josh Brolin
Konrad Kurze- Benedict Cumberbatch
Sanguinius- Sebastian Stan
Ferrus Manus- Daniel Craig
Angron- Karl Urban
Roboute Guilliman- Alan Ritchson
Mortarion- Mads Mikkelsen
Magnus- Tom Hiddleston
Horus- Vincent D’Onofrio
Lorgar- Andrew Scott
Vulkan- Idris Elba
Corax- Tom Sturridge
Alpharius- Graham McTavish
Of the suggestions I’d go with
Lion – Bard
Fulgrim – Spider
Perturabo – Beard (I think spiders pick is missing here)
Jaghatai – all
Russ – beard (but I do like Gerard as a pick)
Dorn – bard/beard
Kurze- beard
Ferrus- spider
Sang – beard/spider
Fulgrim has got to be Pace!
Love thes types of videos. These are my pics for the primarchs I. Dark Angels – Charles Dance II. III. Emperor’s Children – Matt Mercer IV. Iron Warriors – Stellan Skarsgård V. White Scars – Ma Dong-seok VI. Space Wolves – Travis Fimmel VII. Imperial Fist – Josh Brolin VII. Night Lords – Bill Skarsgård IX. Blood Angels – Robert Pattenson X. Iron Hands – Ben Affleck XI. XII. World Eaters – Patrick Warburton XIII. Ultramarines – Henry Cavill XIV. Death Guard – Vincent D’onofrio XV. Thousand Sons – Lee Pace XVI. Sons of Horus – Russell Crowe XVII. Word… Read more »
Fun video. I need to have a think of who I’d cast.
That said I’m more of the mindset the primarchs should have been left as background fluff really, almost mythical.
I also think a warhammer tv/film universe will be the watering down of Warhammer and ruin it a bit! (Well, more than primaris watered down the setting already).
If age and/or death status was not an issue…
Horus – Orson Welles
Mortarion – Marlon Brando
Sanguinius – Paul Newman
Jaghatai Khan – Omar Sharif
Corax – Anthony Quinn
Perturabo – Rod Steiger
Ferrus Manus – Anthony Quayle
Leman Russ – Robert Redford
Alpharius/Omegon – Robert Duvall
Lion El’Jonson – James Caan
Fulgrim – Alec Guinness (think of his role in the Ladykillers)
Rogal Dorn – Charlton Heston
I think we can fit Chris Hemsworth in here somewhere.
Only got as far as Pertuarbo so apols if you say some of the following Agree with the poster who suggested D’Onario as Pertuarbo, his Kingpin is all barely suppressed rage and one wrong word away from smashing your head repeatedly in a car door. Also, if we’re looking for incredibly disturbing, whining and psychotic villains to play Curze, David Tennant’s Killgrave in Jessica Jones is absolutely perfect. I’d have Jay Leto as Fulgrim I’d have Jon Hamm play Dorn, there’s a chin that you could break countless sieges on. Andy Serkis to play Alpharius/Omegon Michael Sheen to play Lorgar… Read more »
Alan Ritchson as guilliman would work well I feel
I’ve got to say that Beard’s choice of Adam Copeland for Russ is inspired, as soon as you said it I was instantly on board. Plus there’s more than enough time for him to reunite with Christian and retire in glory (especially since Christian is nowhere near ready for a face turn.)
For the Lion the first name that came to mind was Jude Law.
I like Christian Bale for The Lion!
I think Charles Dance is too old for a Heresy era Lion 🤔
This is an out there pick but bill nightly for both the lion or pertarabo would be interesting i think
Henry Cavil for.. HORUS!! would be a cool switch to his good guy roles 🙂
I could see the wrestler Triple H as a good Leman Russ. He’s played good and bad roles which is what Russ is. He can be that leader role which executes the thousand sons
Willem Dafoe as Mortarion is quite fitting. And Cavill himself would be a great Russ.
I’m not there yet but I hope one of you picked Willem Defoe for Curze…..
Regarding Bard’s vision for perturabo, I don’t know if he would really work but I have never seen “barely restrained anger” better than Timothy Olyphant’s Seth Bullock in Deadwood
Controversial put i think vigo mortinson would make an amazing lemen russ I think he has the looks and the voice personally matches really well with russ.
Vincient D’Onofrio would make a great Peturabo. With a little CGI de-aging and gigantism alterations. He has the ability to pull off genius, insanity and menace that Peturabo needs.