“Masters of the Universe” is the 2026 live-action fantasy adventure film based on Mattel’s enormously popular Masters of the Universe franchise, bringing He-Man, Skeletor, Teela, Man-At-Arms, the Sorceress and the world of Eternia back to the big screen in a much more ambitious production than the earlier 1987 movie. The film was directed by Travis Knight, whose previous work includes “Bumblebee” and the acclaimed animated features “Kubo and the Two Strings” and “The Boxtrolls.”
The screenplay was written by Chris Butler, Aaron Nee, Adam Nee and David Callaham, from a story by Aaron and Adam Nee, Alex Litvak and Michael Finch. The principal producers were Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Robbie Brenner and DeVon Franklin, with Mattel Studios, Amazon MGM Studios and Escape Artists involved in the production. Amazon MGM Studios released the film theatrically in the United States and Canada on June 5, 2026, with Sony Pictures Releasing handling international distribution in many territories.
The film runs approximately two hours and twenty minutes and carries a PG-13 rating for action violence, language and suggestive material. The story centers on Prince Adam, played by Nicholas Galitzine, who has spent much of his life separated from his home world of Eternia. Fifteen years after being sent away, the Sword of Power leads him back to his home, where he discovers that Eternia has fallen under the control of the evil Skeletor,
played by Jared Leto. Adam must confront the destruction of his family and kingdom while gradually accepting the responsibility that comes with his extraordinary heritage. His transformation into He-Man becomes the emotional and heroic centerpiece of the story, as he learns that possessing great
power is less important than understanding how and why to use it. Along the way he joins forces with Teela, played by Camila Mendes, and Duncan, better known as Man-At-Arms, played by Idris Elba. Their struggle against Skeletor provides the film with its central mixture of fantasy adventure, humor, family drama and large-scale action. The supporting cast gives the film a particularly impressive collection of familiar Masters of the Universe characters.
Alison Brie plays Evil-Lyn, James Purefoy portrays King Randor, Morena Baccarin plays the Sorceress, Charlotte Riley is Queen Marlena, and Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson portrays Malcolm, also known as Fisto. Kristen Wiig provides the voice of Roboto, while other classic characters
appear throughout the adventure. Jared Leto’s Skeletor represents one of the production’s most prominent attempts to reinterpret an iconic villain for a modern audience, while Galitzine’s Prince Adam/He-Man was designed to emphasize both the heroic physicality associated with the character and Adam’s vulnerability and uncertainty. Knight has described himself as a lifelong fan of the property, and his approach was intended to respect the imaginative excesses of the original franchise rather than treating them simply as camp or nostalgia.
Cast
- Galitzine, Nicholas (September 29, 1994–) — Adam Glenn / He-Man, the young man from Earth who discovers that he is the heir to Eternia and must embrace his identity as He-Man to reclaim his home from Skeletor. Galitzine previously appeared in The Beat Beneath My Feet, High Strung, Handsome Devil, The Craft: Legacy, Cinderella, Purple Hearts, Bottoms, Red, White & Royal Blue, The Idea of You, and the television miniseries Mary & George.
- Wilkinson-Hunt, Artie (September 15, 2015–) — Young Adam, portraying Prince Adam during his childhood years before he becomes He-Man. His previous work includes Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, C.B. Strike, Stonehouse, The National Theatre at Home: The Land of the Living, and the television series Mittens & Pants.
- Mendes, Camila (June 29, 1994–) — Teela, Man-At-Arms’ adopted daughter and captain of the guards who becomes one of Adam’s closest allies in the fight against Skeletor. Mendes is best known for Riverdale, Palm Springs, Dangerous Lies, The Perfect Date, Coyote Lake, Upgraded, and Música.
- Farrell, Eire (date not publicly available) — Young Teela, portraying Teela during her childhood. Farrell is a young actress whose previous work includes the television series Harry Potter and the feature film Tin Soldier, along with commercial and theatrical work.
- Elba, Idris (September 6, 1972–) — Duncan / Man-At-Arms, Teela’s adoptive father and one of King Randor’s most trusted warriors, whose expertise with weapons and technology makes him a vital member of Adam’s heroic team. Elba’s major previous roles include Stringer Bell in The Wire, Detective John Luther in Luther, Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Heimdall in the Thor and Avengers films, Bloodsport in The Suicide Squad, Brixton Lore in Hobbs & Shaw, Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and roles in Prometheus, Pacific Rim, Beasts of No Nation, and Hijack.
- Leto, Jared (December 26, 1971–) — Keldor / Skeletor, the ruthless warlock who has conquered Eternia and become its tyrannical ruler. Leto previously played Jordan Catalano in My So-Called Life, Harry Goldfarb in Requiem for a Dream, Angel Face in Fight Club, Paul Allen in American Psycho, Junior in Panic Room, Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club, the Joker in Suicide Squad, Dr. Michael Morbius in Morbius, and Nemo in Mr. Nobody.
- Brie, Alison (December 29, 1982–) — Evil-Lyn, a powerful sorceress who betrays Eternia and becomes an important ally of Skeletor; on Earth she is known as Evelyn Powers, Adam’s former college professor and mentor. Brie’s major previous roles include Trudy Campbell in Mad Men, Annie Edison in Community, Diane Nguyen in BoJack Horseman, Ruth Wilder in GLOW, and appearances in The Five-Year Engagement, The Lego Movie, Horse Girl, Promising Young Woman, Happiest Season, and Sleeping with Other People.
- Purefoy, James (June 3, 1964–) — King Randor, the ruler of Eternia, husband of Queen Marlena and father of Adam. Purefoy previously appeared as Mark Antony in Rome, Solomon Kane in Solomon Kane, Edward I in A Knight’s Tale, Malko in The Following, Hap Collins in Hap and Leonard, and Skellen in The Witcher, as well as in Resident Evil, Vanity Fair, Mansfield Park, John Carter, and Momentum.
- Riley, Charlotte (December 29, 1981–) — Queen Marlena Glenn, Randor’s wife and Adam’s mother, an Earth-born former astronaut who becomes queen of Eternia. Riley previously played Catherine Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights, Nance in Edge of Tomorrow, Peggy Chase in In the Heart of the Sea, Jacqueline Marshall in London Has Fallen, and roles in Easy Virtue, Peaky Blinders, The Take, Dark Heart, and Press.
- Baccarin, Morena (June 2, 1979–) — The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull, Teela’s biological mother and the mystical guardian of Castle Grayskull whose knowledge of magic is essential to Adam’s transformation. Baccarin previously starred as Inara Serra in Firefly and Serenity, Jessica Brody in Homeland, Leslie Thompkins in Gotham, Vanessa in Deadpool, Deadpool 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine, and appeared in Stargate SG-1, V, Spy, Greenland, and Elevation.
- Johannesson, Jóhannes Haukur (January 26, 1980–) — Malcolm / Fisto, Duncan’s younger brother and Teela’s adoptive uncle, a Heroic Warrior distinguished by his powerful metal arm. His previous work includes Vikings, The Innocents, Atomic Blonde, Alpha, Game of Thrones, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, Blood Vessel, Infinite, and Captain America: Brave New World.
- Zhang, Jon Xue (March 4, 1988–) — Ram-Man, the heavily built Heroic Warrior whose signature attack is his devastating headbutt. Zhang previously appeared in Eternals, The Brothers Sun, The Arbiter, and other film and television projects, and has extensive stunt and action experience.
- Wilson, Sam C. (date not publicly available) — Kronis / Trap Jaw, the cyborg weapons expert and one of Skeletor’s principal warriors. Wilson’s previous work includes Masters of the Universe and other film and television projects, as well as stunt and performance work.
- Zamata, Sasheer (May 6, 1986–) — Suzie, Adam’s friend and co-worker on Earth. Zamata previously appeared on Saturday Night Live, Woke, Home Economics, Agatha All Along, I Feel Pretty, The Mitchells vs. the Machines, and Corporate.
- Vunipola, Christian (date not publicly available) — Hussein, Adam’s roommate on Earth. Vunipola’s previous screen credits are limited, with Masters of the Universe representing one of his most prominent film roles.
- Bettridge, Christiaan (date not publicly available) — Dian, a character connected with Adam’s early life and the film’s Earth-based story. His previous screen credits are limited, with Masters of the Universe serving as his principal credited feature-film role.
- O’Riordan, Delilah (date not publicly available) — Young Dian, appearing in the childhood portion of Adam’s story. Masters of the Universe is among her earliest credited screen appearances.
- Wilkinson, James (date not publicly available) — Mekaneck, the Heroic Warrior famous for his telescoping neck, which gives him the ability to extend his head far above his normal height. Wilkinson is an actor, singer, dancer and experienced stunt performer; previous work includes Bergerac, West Flies the Raven, and other stunt and performance projects.
- Attah, Kojo (date not publicly available) — Tri-Klops, a bounty hunter and swordsman allied with Skeletor and distinguished by his multiple-viewpoint helmet. Attah previously appeared in Wrath of Man, The Beekeeper, In the Grey, and Murder at the Embassy.
- Apps, James (date not publicly available) — Spikor, one of Skeletor’s distinctive warriors, recognizable by his spiked armor and trident. Apps is primarily known as a stunt performer and has worked on Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Wicked, Gladiator II, Blitz, Masters of the Air, Kraven the Hunter, Outlander, Towards Zero, and How to Train Your Dragon 2.
- Adentan, Stephen (date not publicly available) — Moss Man, the green, plant-like Heroic Warrior associated with the natural world of Eternia. His previous credited screen work is limited, with Masters of the Universe representing his major feature-film role.
- Bassi, Arun (date not publicly available) — Pigboy, a supporting character from the colorful population of Eternia. Bassi previously appeared as Patel in School’s Out Forever, Rajan in Criminal Record, and Dev Suri in Doctors.
- Lundgren, Dolph (November 3, 1957–) — Macho-Man, a character created for the 2026 film and a playful nod to Lundgren’s own history with the Masters of the Universe franchise. Lundgren famously played He-Man in the original 1987 Masters of the Universe. His other major roles include Ivan Drago in Rocky IV and Creed II, Gunner Jensen in The Expendables films, Frank Castle in The Punisher, and appearances in Universal Soldier, Red Scorpion, Showdown in Little Tokyo, and Aquaman.
- Rivers, Elena (date not publicly available) — Julie, an Earth-based supporting character. Rivers previously appeared as Geminita in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Lucy in The Girlfriend, Alice Lane in Diamond Sky, Joy in I Bring Joy, and a supper-club hostess in F1: The Movie.
- Saliu, Lauren (date not publicly available) — Adora / She-Ra, appearing in an uncredited role that introduces another major figure from the wider Masters of the Universe mythology. Saliu previously appeared in The Last Straw, Joggers, The Choice, and Toot Toot; she is also credited as a producer on The Last Straw and The Choice.
Production of the movie was unusually complicated because Hollywood had been attempting to bring a new He-Man film to theaters for well over a decade. A new live-action project had originally been announced as far back as 2009, with Sony Pictures and Escape Artists involved, and the property subsequently went through numerous writers, directors and proposed actors. Netflix eventually became involved and had Kyle Allen attached to play He-Man,
but that version was abandoned. In 2024, Amazon MGM Studios acquired the project, Travis Knight replaced Aaron and Adam Nee as director, and Nicholas Galitzine replaced Allen. The new production finally moved forward with Mattel Studios and a substantial budget reported in the neighborhood of $170 million to $200 million, making it one of the most expensive attempts yet to turn the franchise into a major cinematic property.
Principal photography took place primarily in England during 2025, with production beginning in February and continuing into June. London served as an important production center, including work at Bray Studios and locations around the city. The filmmakers also used Wells Cathedral, Wookey Hole and the Beer Quarry Caves in England, while additional photography and location work took place in the Dolomites of Italy and in Iceland.
These locations were particularly important in creating the enormous, ancient and otherworldly appearance of Eternia. Canary Wharf in London was also used, giving the film a striking contrast between recognizable modern Earth environments and the elaborate fantasy landscapes associated with He-Man. The decision to combine practical locations, constructed sets and extensive visual effects was intended to make Eternia feel like a physical
world rather than simply a digital backdrop. The production employed major visual-effects companies including Industrial Light & Magic, DNEG and Rodeo FX, while cinematographer Fabian Wagner photographed the film and Paul Rubell handled the editing. Daniel Pemberton composed the score, which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios. The filmmakers placed considerable emphasis on costumes, makeup, creatures,
armor and physical sets so that the fantastical elements would have tangible weight. Knight’s experience with both animation and live-action was especially useful in balancing enormous digital characters and environments with practical filmmaking. The result was designed to occupy a middle ground between the colorful excesses of the original animated series and the more grounded
visual style common to contemporary fantasy blockbusters. One of the biggest points of interest surrounding the movie was its relationship to the 1987 “Masters of the Universe,” starring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor. That earlier film became notorious for taking much of its story away from Eternia and placing the characters on Earth, while also omitting or substantially altering several beloved characters.
The 2026 film deliberately takes a different approach by putting Eternia, Castle Grayskull and the mythology of He-Man at the center of the adventure. It is therefore much closer in spirit to the fantasy world that made the original toys and animated series famous. At the same time, the filmmakers incorporated modern ideas about identity, responsibility, masculinity and vulnerability into Prince Adam’s journey, giving the character more emotional development
than the straightforward hero of many earlier versions. The movie also represents an important stage in Mattel’s strategy of turning its toy properties into major entertainment franchises following the extraordinary success of “Barbie.” Mattel executives have regarded He-Man as one of the company’s most recognizable intellectual properties, but “Masters of the Universe” presented a substantially different challenge from “Barbie.” Rather than building the film around satire
and contemporary comedy, the filmmakers had to create a convincing fantasy universe containing warriors, magic, monsters, futuristic technology and characters whose distinctive appearances originated with action figures and cartoons. Knight’s personal enthusiasm for the property became one of the production’s selling points, since he approached the material as someone who remembered the franchise from childhood rather
than as an outsider attempting to modernize it solely for commercial reasons. A particularly interesting piece of trivia is that the film’s journey to the screen involved so many different versions that the 2026 production was effectively the culmination of years of development hell. The project passed through multiple studios and creative teams before Amazon MGM and Knight finally
brought it into production. Galitzine also underwent an extensive physical transformation for the role, spending months training to achieve the physique expected of He-Man. The filmmakers faced the additional challenge of translating characters whose original designs were intentionally exaggerated into believable live-action figures without losing their instantly recognizable identities. The production’s use of locations such as Wells Cathedral and the Dolomites helped give Eternia an appropriately monumental scale,
while the combination of practical production design and visual effects allowed the film to preserve some of the tactile quality associated with the original toys. Ultimately, “Masters of the Universe” represents a second major attempt to establish He-Man as a successful live-action movie franchise, but under vastly different circumstances from the 1987 version. With a much larger budget, modern visual effects, an internationally recognized cast, extensive location shooting and a director who was personally
invested in the source material, the 2026 film was conceived as a full-scale fantasy epic rather than a modest adaptation of a toy property. Its central idea remains the classic one: Prince Adam must accept his destiny and become He-Man in order to defend Eternia from Skeletor. What distinguishes this version is its attempt to combine that familiar mythology with a more emotionally developed hero, a richly realized fantasy world and the scale of a modern blockbuster.
Spoilers
2026 Film vs. 1987 Film vs. 1980s Cartoon vs. Original Comics
Skeletor’s origin
- 2026 Film: Demon from another dimension (no family tie to Randor)
- 1987 Film: Keldor, Randor’s brother
- 1980s Cartoon: Keldor, Randor’s brother
- Original Mini-Comics (1982): Interdimensional demon, no family connection
Prince Adam
- 2026 Film: Central character; raised on Earth (Oklahoma City) with no memory of Eternia
- 1987 Film: Absent entirely
- 1980s Cartoon: Prince on Eternia with a secret identity
- Original Mini-Comics (1982): Prince on Eternia
Setting
- 2026 Film: ~80% on Eternia; brief Earth scenes
- 1987 Film: ~90% on Earth (budget reasons)
- 1980s Cartoon: Eternia
- Original Mini-Comics (1982): Eternia
Tone
- 2026 Film: Campy, self-aware, comedic
- 1987 Film: Serious, grandiose (Star Wars-style)
- 1980s Cartoon: Light, episodic, moral-of-the-story
- Original Mini-Comics (1982): Earnest good-vs-evil
Does He-Man kill?
- 2026 Film: Yes (framed as losing control)
- 1987 Film: No
- 1980s Cartoon: No (strict no-kill rule)
- Original Mini-Comics (1982): No
Battle Cat transformation
- 2026 Film: Cringer simply gets armored; no magical two-part sequence
- 1987 Film: N/A (no Cringer)
- 1980s Cartoon: Cringer is magically transformed into Battle Cat
- Original Mini-Comics (1982): N/A
Roboto
- 2026 Film: Female, voiced by Kristen Wiig; darker color scheme
- 1987 Film: Absent
- 1980s Cartoon: Male, transparent chest showing gears
- Original Mini-Comics (1982): Male, transparent chest
Orko
- 2026 Film: Confined to a credits-scene moral
- 1987 Film: Absent (too expensive)
- 1980s Cartoon: Central comedic character
- Original Mini-Comics (1982): Minor presence
She-Ra / Adora
- 2026 Film: Mid-credits teaser
- 1987 Film: Absent
- 1980s Cartoon: Not in original Filmation series
- Original Mini-Comics (1982): Not present
Teela’s role
- 2026 Film: Experienced resistance fighter who finds Adam; ahead of him as a warrior
- 1987 Film: Sidekick
- 1980s Cartoon: Sidekick
- Original Mini-Comics (1982): Supporting
Plot structure
- 2026 Film: Begins after Skeletor has already won
- 1987 Film: Skeletor seizes Castle Grayskull; cosmic key teleports heroes to Earth
- 1980s Cartoon: Episodic: Skeletor schemes → gets defeated → returns next week
- Original Mini-Comics (1982): Serialized adventure
Costume fidelity
- 2026 Film: Very close to cartoon designs
- 1987 Film: Deviated significantly (purple trunks, gold armor, grey/silver for heroes)
- 1980s Cartoon: N/A (source)
- Original Mini-Comics (1982): N/A
Notable cast
- 2026 Film: Nicholas Galitzine (He-Man), Jared Leto (Skeletor), Idris Elba (Man-At-Arms)
- 1987 Film: Dolph Lundgren (He-Man), Frank Langella (Skeletor), Courteney Cox (Teela)
- 1980s Cartoon: Voice cast
- Original Mini-Comics (1982): N/A
Homage to 1987
- 2026 Film: Dolph Lundgren cameo as “Macho Man,” says “Good journey”
- 1987 Film: N/A
- 1980s Cartoon: N/A
- Original Mini-Comics (1982): N/A
What the 2026 film deliberately kept from the cartoon:
- Skeletor’s vocabulary of insults, lifted wholesale
- The Orko credits tag (a recreation of Filmation’s moral-of-the-story format)
- Deep-cut toyline characters: Goat Man, Spikor, Moss Man, Ram Man, Fisto, Trap Jaw, Tri-Klops
- Stakes confined to Eternia (not the whole universe)
- A score by Daniel Pemberton modeled on Queen’s Flash Gordon, with Brian May co-writing “Eternia”
Key takeaway: The 2026 film is faithful in texture (costumes, insults, humor, character designs) but radical in structure (Adam raised on Earth, no secret identity, He-Man kills, Skeletor starts victorious). It rejects the Keldor origin in favor of the earliest comic-book version of Skeletor, while the 1987 film leaned on that same Keldor backstory but was forced by budget to set most of its story on Earth and dropped Prince Adam, Orko, and most of the toyline cast.
Further Reading
Sources
- Wikipedia “Masters of the Universe (2026 film)” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masters_of_the_Universe_(2026_film)
- IMDB “Masters of the Universe 2026 PG-13 2h 20m” https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427340/
- Rotten Tomatoes “Masters of the Universe PG-13, Jun 2026, 2h 20m, Adventure/Action/Fantasy” https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/masters_of_the_universe_2026
