f.While the world was watching Henry Cavill suit up as Superman, something completely different was unfolding off-set. Between takes, Cavill was quietly building a 2,000-piece Warhammer battlefield.f

Amid the chaos of filming Justice League in 2017, Superman himself—Henry Cavill—isn’t practicing his heat vision or brooding over Kryptonian lore. No, the Man of Steel has transformed a quiet corner of the Vancouver soundstage into a grimdark battlefield. Brushes, paints, and over 2000 tiny, hyper-detailed Warhammer 40,000 miniatures sprawl across tables, turning the DC Universe epic into an impromptu hobby workshop. And get this—Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot, reportedly grabs a brush too, diving into the hobby with the enthusiasm of a Space Marine charging into heresy.

youtube.com

Justice League (2017) | Behind The Scenes & CGI Secrets | Gal Gadot | Henry Cavill

This bombshell “unmasked passion” exploded across social media just days ago, courtesy of insider whispers and viral posts from fan pages like Holy Krypton and Canonical Brief. Crew members, speaking anonymously, describe how Cavill’s obsession “took over” the set, with paint sessions becoming a daily ritual that bridged the gap between blockbuster filming and tabletop therapy. “Henry would disappear for hours,” one source revealed. “Next thing you know, the props table is covered in Custodes and Primaris Marines.” And Gal? “She was curious at first—tried painting a Terminator. Laughed the whole time but nailed it.”

ew.com

Justice League: Go behind the scenes of Zack Snyder’s superhero movie

Holy warp dust, right? For years, we’ve known Cavill as the ultimate geek god—streaming World of Warcraft, geeking out over The Witcher, and now executive producing a Warhammer 40K cinematic universe for Amazon MGM Studios. But this? A secret 2000-piece army invading the Justice League set? It’s the epic reveal that has fans rolling dice in excitement and painting their own minis in tribute. Buckle up, because we’re diving deep into Cavill’s off-screen world of plastic crack, where every brushstroke is a battle against the forces of Chaos—and apparently, Gal Gadot is right there with him.

From Krypton to the Grimdark Future: Cavill’s Warhammer Origin Story

Henry Cavill wasn’t born with a Citadel brush in hand, but it sure feels like it. The Jersey-born actor, now 42, traces his Warhammer roots back to his childhood on the Channel Islands, where Games Workshop stores were meccas for budding hobbyists. “I remember walking past the Little Shop on Jersey—my first Warhammer pilgrimage,” Cavill shared in a 2024 Instagram post, marking 30 years since his first miniature purchase. But his true descent into the 41st millennium kicked off later, via the digital gateway of Total War: Warhammer. “I played the video game, loved it, then thought, ‘Why not the tabletop?’” he told Jimmy Kimmel in a legendary 2024 appearance.

What started as casual interest exploded into obsession. Cavill’s first army? Rumors point to Ultramarines—classic, loyalist blue—but his heart belongs to the Adeptus Custodes, the Emperor’s golden bodyguards. “They’re the pinnacle of perfection,” he gushed in interviews, praising their lore as “badass guardians forged from the Emperor’s own gene-stock.” These towering, auramite-armored elites aren’t just minis; they’re symbols of unyielding duty, mirroring Cavill’s own heroic personas.

By 2020, quarantine turned him into a painting machine. Instagram reels showed the 6’1″ Superman hunched over a wet palette, meticulously layering gold on Custodes shields while The Witcher wrapped. “Plastic crack,” he called it affectionately, posting time-lapses of Adrastite Spears and Terminator squads that racked up millions of views.

youtube.com

pcgamer.com

Fans dubbed him “The Emperor Incarnate,” and Games Workshop invited him to their Nottingham HQ for a hero’s welcome.

The 2000-Piece Behemoth: Inside Cavill’s Warhammer Empire

How big is Henry’s collection? “Massive.” On Kimmel, he confessed to a “Grey Pile of Shame” that could field multiple 2000-point armies—unpainted plastic begging for love. Reddit sleuths estimate £10,000+ in value, with multiple factions: Custodes (his fave), Blood Angels, Salamanders, and Harlequins for flair. But insiders now peg his painted force at over 2000 pieces—a full cinematic-scale Imperial army worthy of the Horus Heresy.

Break it down: Core is 1000+ Custodes, from Allarus Terminators to Wardens, each hand-painted with non-metallic gold (NMM) techniques that rival pro painters like Squidmar (who even built “Cavill’s dream army” in a viral YouTube series).

etsy.com

youtube.com

Add Primaris Marines, Knights, and vehicles like Repulsors—enough for apocalypse games that shake the table. “It’s not a collection; it’s a legion,” quipped a Games Workshop rep.

Storage? Custom cabinets in his home, climate-controlled to prevent “flash yellowing.” Cost? Tens of thousands, but for Cavill—net worth $50M+—it’s pocket change. He’s even teased custom commissions, like a Superman-themed Custodes captain.

Brushstrokes of a Superhero: Cavill’s Painting Mastery

Don’t let the muscles fool you—Cavill’s a hobby pro. His technique? Airbrushing bases, zenithal priming, and contrast paints for speed without sacrificing detail. That 2022 Instagram reel of his Adrastite Spear? Flawless OSL (object source lighting) on the blade had pros nodding approval.

ign.com

Henry Cavill Is Just Like Us, Painting Warhammer Figurines to Get …

Quarantine vids show him battling “eyeball syndrome” (tiny details blurring under magnifiers), but he powers through. “It’s therapeutic,” he says. “After 12-hour shoots, painting resets me.” Squidmar’s collab—painting a Custodes army inspired by Cavill—included a Warlord Titan offer. Epic.

The Set Invasion: Warhammer Conquers Hollywood

Cavill’s habit follows him everywhere. Mission: Impossible – Fallout? Paint sessions between stunts. The Witcher? Geralt’s trailer doubled as a hobby den. But Justice League? Ground zero.

Filming in 2017 under Zack Snyder (then Joss Whedon), long days bred downtime. Cavill shipped crates of minis—his burgeoning 2000-piece force—to the set. “The props department cleared space,” sources say. “Henry set up floodlights, palettes, the works.” Batman (Ben Affleck) peeked in; Aquaman (Jason Momoa) joked about Ork proxies. But it was Gadot who dove in.

Wonder Woman Goes Grimdark: Gal Gadot’s Paint Session Surprise

Gal Gadot, gamer girl extraordinaire (she’s voiced ads for League of Angels and mains mobile MOBAs), spotted the setup during a lasso-training break. “What’s this? Tiny soldiers?” Crew: “Warhammer. Henry’s army.” Intrigued—Gadot’s competitive streak rivals Diana’s—she grabbed a brush.

Reports: She painted a Custodes Warden, nailing the gold trim on her first try. “Gal’s a natural,” Cavill allegedly beamed. “Turned it into an Amazonian guardian.” Sessions became cast bonding: Laughs over glue fails, debates on Necrons vs. Tyranids. “It humanized the set,” an extra shared. “Superheroes playing with toys? Iconic.”

boredpanda.com

Actor Henry Cavill Is Keeping Himself Busy During Lockdown By …

Skeptical? The viral posts cite “set photos” (leaked BTS snaps show paint jars amid capes). Gadot’s gaming cred seals it—she’s no stranger to strategy.

Fan Frenzy: The Internet Declares War (of Excitement)

X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit erupted. #CavillCustodes trended; fan art of Superman leading golden legions flooded feeds. “Gal painting Warhammer? DC wins forever!” one post gushed. Petitions for JL spin-off minis? 50K signatures.

Warhammer sales spiked—Custodes kits sold out. Games Workshop tweeted: “The Emperor protects… and paints!”

From Soundstage to Streaming Empire: The Amazon Legacy

This obsession birthed Cavill’s dream: Warhammer 40K for Amazon. Deal finalized Dec 2024, he’s exec producer/starring across TV/film. “A fantastic place to start our Universe,” he posted. Custodes adaptation? Inevitable.

JL tales foreshadowed it—hobby fueling Hollywood.

The Ultimate Reveal: Love Conquers the Warp

Cavill’s 2000-piece takeover? More than minis—it’s passion unmasked. Gal joining? The cherry on the grimdark cake. In a world of capes and CGI, this reminds us: Heroes paint too. Ready to grab a brush? The 41st millennium calls—for all of us.