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The He-Man movie is happening. Officially titled Masters of the Universe, it’s a live-action take on the classic ’80s comic book character, the first in almost 40 years. Here’s everything you need to know.
Masters of the Universe was confirmed by actor Nicholas Galitzine, who stars as the brawny superhero in Amazon MGM’s upcoming film. On Monday, Feb. 24 he shared the first in-costume photo on Instagram, posing topless with the iconic Power Sword.
Galitzine, who previously featured in Cinderella, Bottoms, and Red, White, and Royal Blue, revealed his intense preparation in the caption.
“After several months of intense training, I’m thrilled to share that we’re officially in production on Masters of the Universe. Our director, Travis Knight, has assembled the most incredible ensemble cast and created a stunning tapestry of Eternia and its surrounding world. I can’t wait for you to see. More to come, but until then, here’s a sneak peek at the Sword of Power. By the power of Grayskull!”
Galitzine joins more than a few famous faces in what could almost be called an all-star cast. Jared Leto stars as the villainous Skeletor, while rounding out the cast are Idris Elba, Camila Mendes, Morena Baccarin, James Purefoy, and Alison Brie.
There’s even an appearance by the world’s strongest man, Hafthor Bjornsson. Here’s the full Masters of the Universe cast list.
Masters of the Universe Cast
- Nicholas Galitzine (“He-Man”)
- Camila Mendes (“Teela”)
- Morena Baccarin (“The Sorceress”)
- James Purefoy (“King Randor”)
- Alison Brie (“Evil-Lyn”)
- Charlotte Riley (“Queen Marlena”)
- Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson (“Malcolm/Fisto”)
- Jared Leto (“Skeletor”)
- Idris Elba (“Duncan/Man-at-Arms”)
- Sam C. Wilson (“Trap Jaw”)
- Hafthor Bjornsson (“Goat Man”)
- Kojo Attah (“Tri-Klops”)
- Sasheer Zamata (“Suzie”)
- John Xue Zhang (“Ram-Man”)
- Christian Vunipola (“Hussein”)
Masters of the Universe Director
Directed by Travis Knight (Bumblebee), Masters of the Universe is a faithful adaptation of the classic He-Man story. Chris Butler, who teamed with Knight on Kubo and the Two Strings, is writing the screenplay, with the initial draft written by David Callaham, and Aaron and Adam Nee.
Masters of the Universe Plot
The film is an origin story of He-Man, charting his rise from a lost kid to the universe’s most powerful man. As detailed by Mattel Films, Masters of the Universe starts by introducing us to ten-year-old Prince Adam, a resident of the magical planet Eternia.
After crash-landing on Earth in a spaceship and losing his magical Power Sword, Prince Adam sets off on an adventure to reclaim it and defend his home against the evil forces of Skeletor.
According to IMDb’s official synopsis, the plot is as follows: “In furthest regions of space the kingdom of Eternia is threatened by the villainous Skeletor and his mischievous armies of darkness. To save his father’s kingdom and protect the lives of those he holds dear young Prince Adam has to retrieve a mythical sword and become the fabled warrior only known as ‘He-Man’.”
Masters of the Universe Trailer
With the film expected to hit theaters in 2026, production has yet to start on Masters of the Universe. So when can we look forward to a trailer? The earliest would be December 2025, given Barbie’s first trailer also dropped in December ahead of its Summer release the following year.
Who is He-Man?
He-Man first appeared in the 1981 comic book He-Man and the Power Sword. 1983 saw the premier of the character’s first animated series, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. In 1987 Dolph Lundgren played He-Man in a live-action adaptation called Masters of the Universe.
Masters of the Universe Release Date
Masters of the Universe is currently set to hit theaters June 5, 2026. Mattel Films, who helped bring Barbie to a billion at the 2023 box office, will be hoping for similar success.
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