More Imperial Fists concept art...

More concept art of the interior of the Imperial Fists’ shrine now in the gallery, including details of banners, stained glass, intricate mosaic flooring and an ornate Bolt Pistol.

Dan, Dan the Writing Man in San Diego

Dan Abnett is at ComicCon in San Diego this week, talking about writing the ULTRAMARINES movie. Catch him at the following times:

Thursday July 22 2010
5.00 - 6.00pm SFX presents...The British Invasion panel (5AB)

Friday July 23 2010
10.00 - 11.00pm Signing in the Autograph Area - Sails Pavilion (Booth AA 20)

Saturday July 24 2010
10.00 - 11.0pm Signing on the SFX booth (5567)

He’s also appearing with his Marvel writer’s head on, at these events:

Thursday July 22 2010
3.15 - 4.15pm Mighty Marvel Mondo Panel (6DE)

Friday July 23 2010
5.00 - 6.00pm Signing on Marvel booth (2329)

Saturday July 24 2010
11.00 - 12.00pm Signing on Marvel booth (2329)

Brothers in Arms

Well, this should get you all talking…

We’ve reached another of those juicy, much-anticipated moments when the studio releases a few more images and designs for you to enjoy. And just look what they are this time!

The captions say it all. This is material related to the Imperial Fists. That’s right, loyal citizens of the Imperium, there’s more than one chapter of Space Marines in this movie! The Ultramarines are going to cross paths with the Imperial Fists, second only to them in codex purity and staunch observance of the Astartes doctrine?
The Fists have an extraordinary reputation based upon their implacable skills at fortification and defense, and their ability to endure. Really endure. It was the Imperial Fists, under their primarch Rogal Dorn, who fortified and held the Emperor’s Palace during the Siege of Terra at the climax of The Horus Heresy. Their loyal legacy is a matter Imperial record. They are honoured and they are feared.

So what could have happened on the shrine planet, Mithron, and how are the Ultramarines’ bold brother-chapter, the Imperial Fists, involved?

Well, of course, I’m not going to tell, because that would spoil the story, but I’m delighted to say this: I’ve been given permission to officially reveal, for the first time, that the characters played by the magnificent John Hurt (Carnak) and the marvellous Johnny Harris (Nidon) are both Imperial Fists.

As usual, there are so many other things I want to blab, and so many things I’ve seen that I want to go “wow!’ about, but I’ll leave it here. Enjoy the designs. Enjoy the anticipation.

Maybe I’ll see you at the San Diego ComicCon, or the US Games Day in Baltimore. It’s going to be a busy summer!

Questions and Answers

Thanks to everyone who came along to the ULTRAMARINES panel discussion at the London MCM Expo to hear Martyn Pick, Bob Thompson, David Kerney and Dan Abnett talking about the development and production of the movie.

For those of you that weren't there, or who weren"t able to hear everything above the noise, we've put together a short video of some of the highlights and have posted the transcription of the entire seminar on the website here. Lots of the questions that have been asked since the movie was announced are answered here by the production team themselves.

Dan Abnett in the USA this summer!

Dan Abnett, ULTRAMARINES screenwriter, is coming to ComicCon in San Diego at the end of this month, with lots of activities lined up and several opportunities to meet many of you.
Amongst other things, he’ll be talking about being screenwriter on the movie as part of a panel presented by SFX, called ‘The British Invasion’, running on Thursday July 22nd at 5pm in Hall 5AB. And on Friday 23rd July at 10- 11am he’ll be signing ULTRAMARINES postcards (or anything else you want him to!) in the Autograph Area at table AA20. More details to follow...
And for anyone who can’t make it to ComicCon, but wants to meet Dan and talk about the project, he’ll be in Baltimore for US Games Day on August 21st too.

ULTRAMARINES at London MCM Expo 2010

It was great to meet so many of you on the ULTRAMARINES stand at the London MCM Expo last month. Interesting too to hear your hopes and fears for the movie. For those who couldn't make it, here's just a taster of the day for us.

'Eavy Metal Miniatures

Way back, right at the beginning of the production, we asked the ‘Eavy Metal guys in Nottingham to paint miniatures of the main characters from the movie, as one-offs, for display at the Codex Pictures office.

They did a great job, as you can see here: Verenor, holding the Auspex Scanner (below), and Proteus (above).

ULTRAMARINES Teaser

Ultramarines Teaser, giving a small hint of what is to come...

ULTRAMARINES Movie Teaser – coming soon!

The long-awaited teaser, featuring the very first segment of finished animation, will go live on the movie website on Saturday 29 May – but you’ll have to be registered and logged in to view it (and, to be ready, you can do so here).

We hope it’ll give you a real sense of the amazing quality of the animation, and the look of the film. But – not surprisingly – it won’t give away much more!

Win a storyboard from ULTRAMARINES movie!

Today we’re really excited to launch the first ULTRAMARINES movie competition!

By creating an original design for a Space Marine standard, you can be in with a chance of winning one of five original ULTRAMARINES movie storyboards, inked and signed by the artist.

To take part, all you have to do is download the official design template at www.ultramarinesthemovie.com/competition , paint it up (either with artists’ materials on a printed copy or digitally), then re-upload and submit your design to the competition page.

Entry is open to everyone over 13 and no purchase is necessary but you must register on the website to enter. Check the rules and the terms and conditions for further guidelines.

Read rules and terms & conditions Download Template Create design Register & submit
Read rules and
terms & conditions
Download template Create Register
& submit

The judging panel includes Dan Abnett and representatives from Games Workshop Licensing Department and Codex. The best entries will appear in a special gallery on the site.

We can’t wait to see your designs.

Good Luck!