Yeah, logged into my second email account about twenty minutes ago ready to enjoy a leisurely evening of relaxation watching YT vidz. First up was the release of the new Astartes II teaser trailer. Let me say that it's okay but seemingly disjointed. Official press release agrees stating it's a compilation of former scenes from the original Astartes II blended into newer stuff released by GW that might be interpreted as a potential for a new series to be release in 2026. Which it might not be as depicted in the trailer. But then who's to say what it is. Syama himself has released the same teaser trailer on his Digital Bones (YT) channel but said nothing about it.
Several changes from the original Astartes II trailer from years ago.
In the original, they had the Lamentor taking on the Orks by his lonesome. In the original he efficiently blocks an Ork attack and immediately turned from defence to offense and pummels the Ork into oblivion only to be gang popped by a trio of Orks who suddenly show up. In the new trailer, the Lamenter is gone replaced by a new Chapter guy who looks to be a Mortificator. So several other lore-knowledgeables have pointed out this revelation and I'm prone to believe it on face value.
Earlier from the same original Astartes II a trio of besieged Space Marines (originally orange with jackal heads on their pauldrons) are being swarmed by tyranids (genestealers). Despite being wounded and heavily outnumbered the trio of Space Marines continued to fight it out to the bitter end (the Sergeant with the blade is missing an arm while another seated is missing a leg). In the new trailer, the originals are replaced by Scythes of the Emperor. There is a distinct difference in visual quality between this trio and the beautifully presented trio at the end with their majestic flowing capes.
The "new" stuff show several familiar first-born chapters - Emperor Scythes, Sons of Medusa, Retributors (Syama's own now part of the lore), Blood Angels. You get Chaos Space Marines, Tau, Tyranids, Orks, Chaos Cultists. And you get some interesting new scene shots like the Predators tanks burning up the road surface.
The ending image is of a Terminator Death Watch helmet and the promotion for an eventual release - 2026. Whether the quote is going to be the name of what's to follow in 2026 or if it will retain the Astartes II brand is unknown.
Already it's receiving drooling reviews by fans who are just glad the man is back and creating cinematic animation befitting the 40K universe of grimdark. I enjoyed it and rewatched several times.
UPDATE: Chapter Master Valrak (YT streamer) released a follow-up of the Asartes II teaser trailer release review commenting that this new animation will likely be a Deathwatch one based on the five SM shown on the community page - a Retributor, a Scythes of the Emperor, an Angels Vermillion??, a Sons of Medusa, and a Mortificator will be well received with much joy. For seeing something transferred from a tabletop setting on to a cinematic screen would please many fans of the 40K lore. Syama seems capable of taking something from one's imagination and making it live somehow. That's a rare gift.
UPDATE: Learned that Pedersen was involved in HUXLEY: THE ORACLE (link) which is credited on his revamped Digital Bones YT site. Watched it several times and liked what I saw. Trying to connect to someone's viewpoint that The Secret Level Ep. 5 work was different in style from the original Astartes, i.e., the TSL episode was more flashier than the more coldly efficiency of the Astartes films. I have to agree that there is a difference but as others have pointed out Mr Pedersen was intimately involved in the TSL work (if not the overall direction) and his "influence" could be clearly seen in places.
Huxley: The Oracle has that Dune vibe about it (particularly the sandy desert environment). It almost make me keen to read the books upon which this trailer is based - the prequel book by Ben Mauro of the same title.
MORE SPACE STORIES
As someone always keen to explore new horizons (as in adventuring), this looks to be on the same level as the excitement generated by EXODUS.
On an unrelated note, I've watched a Series One through to Six of THE EXPANSE. Enjoyed it but then it began to lose my engagement after that. Holden's annoying character got to me in the end though, as did the machinations of both Errinwright and Johnson.
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UPDATE - 1 Feb: You know GW is going to stuff up Astartes II, or interfere in its production, as many believe. It doesn't take a cynic to point this out. Just how much they screw this up is evident in the changes made in the teaser trailer when they substituted the original chapters for the characters of new 2026 show.
Many have worked out (speculated) by now that the new Astartes II show is going to revolve around a Deathwatch kill team involving five Space Marines from the Retributors, Scythes of the Emperor, Sons of Vermillion, Sons of Medusa, and Mortifactors. The question is will it be in true Astartes style or more akin to the Secret Level mode of looking good and grandstanding, for instance, bursting through a cultist vehicle unscathed or undamaged, excessive weaponry flairs during the cultist annihilation and then the tzaangors? How much creative control will Syama actually have overall? Having seen the Huxley: The Oracle trailer, and compared it to earlier Huxley trailer, I much prefer Mr Pedersen's creative touch to be honest. More direct. More engaging. More memorable (like the Induction scene in HTO).
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