While the development of the Warhammer 40,000 cinematic universe might still be a good distance away, the extensive lore of the franchise will always keep the fans wishing to see what they want in the future. And not just the Adeptus Astartes, many also desire to witness Chaos in its full glory.
Therefore, here are the possible factions of Chaos that we might witness in the developing cinematic universe, showcased in their most accurate portrayal, thanks to Henry Cavill manning the helm of the Prime Video franchise.
10. Dark Mechanicum
The Dark Mechanicum are the Tech-priests and forges of the Adeptus Mechanicus that sided with Chaos during the Horus Heresy. Today, they are still supplying the Ruinous Powers with daemon engines and corrupted war machines, the Chaos equivalent of Titans, in their quest for advancement and technological breakthroughs, even if it means Tech Heresy.
9. The Sorcerous Cabals
These groups amplify Magnus’ schemes in The Immaterium. Their speciality is waging psychic warfare on a galactic scale, with sheer unrivaled warp manipulation, second only to the Eldar.
In addition to the core of The Thousand Sons, led by the Daemon Primarch Magnus the Red, the Sorcerous Cabals consist of entire armies of cult sorcerers, mutants, and Thrall Wizards.
8. The Lost and the Damned
This term is used to group traitor Imperial Guard regiments, mutants, heretics, and Chaos-worshipping heathens, considered to be too far gone to seek redemption in the name of the God Emperor of Mankind.
This group of damnable individuals becomes especially dangerous during wars of attrition, where if one is ruined by the powers of Chaos, it can lead to the fall of an entire planet, with millions of lives at risk. But if taken out in small numbers and with precision, they are one of the weakest factions in the 40,000 setting.
7. Khorne Daemonkin
The legion of Khorne Daemonkin is an amalgamation of mortals, daemons, and daemon engines that are driven by maniacal rage and a thirst for slaughter, combining into a tidal wave of pure carnage. The kinship is also joined by the World Eaters, who are under the command of the Daemon Primarch Angron, who wishes nothing but unbridled slaughter for the Blood God.
They specialise in unrestricted brutality and an ever-flowing torrent of ritual daemon summons to drown their adversaries in a sea of gore and viscera in sheer, raging glee.
6. Chaos Marines
Whether it may be a rag-tag warband or an entire legion bound together with the bonds of camaraderie and brotherhood, every single one of these Chaos Marines is equally lethal individually and as a group.
They possess every single physical and psychological enhancement as their loyalist counterparts, but with the corruption of Chaos lending them even more strength, and they use any method necessary to take their foe down. Therefore, unlike Loyalist Marines, they don’t care about rules, morals, and ethics, and will go to any length to achieve their goals.
5. The Cults of Excess
These hedonistic and debaucherous followers of Slaanesh create pleasure cults that exist within Imperial worlds, spreading corruption before erupting into uprisings filled with pleasure and pain of every kind.
They specialise in the art of death and destruction through manipulation and seduction, creating within their victims a battle frenzy enhanced by sensory overload as well as daemonic possessions. Along with the corrupted minds of The Emperor’s Children, led by The Daemon Primarch Fulgrim, their depravity in the lust for more sensational ecstasy truly knows no bounds.
4. Nurgle’s Plague Legions
Unlike the Death Guard, who were turned into hideous walking plagues under the leadership of Daemon Primarch Mortarion, these Plague Legions consist of mortal followers swollen with gifts of disease from Papa Nurgle. They are built to endure any punishment as well as spread contagions across systems, showering the unwashed masses with Nurgle’s gifts and mercy.
And since they are walking carriers of incurable and hideous diseases, they can affect entire cities, and even planets, if left on their own within a couple of weeks or months.
3. Tzeentch’s Cults of Change
These followers of Tzeentch are a congregation of psykers, warlocks, and ambitious mortals who long for the advent of change in the galaxy, away from all the stagnation. These cults wish to become eternal pawns in the grand game of Tzeentch and change the fate of existence as he so pleases.
Thus, following in the path of the Lord of Change, they use scheming, mutation, psychic powers, and infiltration as a form to topple entire empires from within.
2. Greater Chaos Daemons
Unlike regular daemons, Greater Daemons are manifestations of the Chaos Gods themselves, with each daemon being immortal in the Warp. These consist of Bloodthirsters, Lords of Change, and Great Unclean Ones, among others.
These daemons are almost unstoppable without extreme firepower, psychic might, or the lack of a strong warrior on the field. Usually, someone at the level of a Chapter Master is needed to take these threats out, who also possesses some of the strongest power armors in the Imperium, helping them dish out damage and keep themselves safe due to experience and skills.
1. The Black Legion
Hailed as the undisputed spearhead of Chaos, The Black Legion boasts of hordes of united disparate warbands, daemon engines, traitor Astartes, and daemonic allies. With the events of The Horus Heresy coming to an end with the death of Horus Lupercal, Abaddon the Despoiler took it upon himself to fulfil his Primarch’s will and burn the Imperium and the galaxy to the ground.
And with the formation of The Black Legion, their 13th Black Crusade resulted in the creation of the Cicatrix Maledictum, which split the Imperium of Man in half after Abaddon destroyed Cadia. This was one of the most destructive and catastrophic events since the events of the Heresy, and truly brought the Imperium to its knees.
Which Chaos faction would you like to see brought to Cavill’s Warhammer Universe? Tell us in the comments below.
An official release date for the Warhammer 40,000 live-action series is yet to be announced, but we can expect it to be released on Prime Video in mid-2026/early 2027.
