Masters of the Universe (2026 film)

Masters of the Universe is an upcoming American sword and sorcery film directed by Travis Knight and written by Chris Butler, Aaron and Adam Nee, and David Callaham. Based on the Masters of the Universe media franchise by Mattel, it is the second live-action film adaptation after the 1987 film. Nicholas Galitzine stars as Prince Adam / He-Man, with Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Charlotte Riley, Kristen Wiig, Jared Leto, and Idris Elba in supporting roles. The film follows Prince Adam's return to his home planet Eternia to save it and the rest of the universe from the evil forces of Skeletor.

Following the cancellation of a sequel to the 1987 film, another live-action film was announced in September 2009 by Sony Pictures Entertainment with Escape Artists producing. Following multiple writer and director changes and the casting of Noah Centineo, the rights were transferred to Netflix in January 2022, with Kyle Allen cast as He-Man and the Nee Brothers announced as directors and co-writers with Callaham. In May 2024, the rights were bought by Amazon MGM Studios, with Knight replacing the Nee Brothers. The same month, Galitzine was cast to replace Allen, while the rest of the cast was announced throughout the year. Principal photography occurred in London, England, from January to June 2025.

Masters of the Universe is scheduled to be released in the United States and Canada on June 5, 2026, by Amazon MGM Studios, and internationally by Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Premise

Fleeing a devastating civil war, ten-year-old Adam Glenn, Crown Prince of the planet Eternia, is spirited away to his mother's home planet Earth, separating him from his ancestor's Power Sword. Twenty years later, a now-adult Adam must return to Eternia and rediscover his lost birthright, becoming He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe, and leading the few remaining warriors of Eternia against the evil forces of Skeletor.

Cast

• Nicholas Galitzine as Adam Glenn / He-Man, the Prince of Eternia who was raised on Earth after fleeing his home for his protection.
  • Artie Wilkinson-Hunt as young Adam.
• Camila Mendes as Teela, Man-At-Arms' adoptive daughter and Captain of the Guards of Eternia who serves as Adam's lieutenant.
  • Eire Farrell as young Teela.
• Jared Leto as Keldor / Skeletor, a disfigured sorcerer who covets the power of Castle Grayskull to conquer Eternia and the rest of the universe.
• Idris Elba as Duncan / Man-At-Arms, Teela's adoptive father and Randor's trusted general who fights with his vast array of weapons and gadgets as one of Adam's Heroic Warriors.
• Alison Brie as Professor Evelyn Powers / Evil-Lyn, a sorceress who betrayed Eternia for Skeletor's cause. On Earth, she poses as Adam's former college professor and mentor.
• Morena Baccarin as the Sorceress, Teela's biological mother, and the current guardian of Castle Grayskull whose magical knowledge is unsurpassed.
• Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Malcolm / Fisto, Duncan's younger brother and Teela's adoptive uncle who fights with his distinctive metal arm as a Heroic Warrior.
• James Purefoy as King Randor, co-ruler of Eternia, Marlena's husband, and Adam's father.
• Charlotte Riley as Queen Marlena Glenn, an ex-astronaut from Earth, co-ruler of Eternia, Randor's wife, and Adam's mother.
• Kristen Wiig as the voice of Roboto, one of the Heroic Warriors who possesses great strength and resilience with her mechanical body.
• Sasheer Zamata as Suzie, Adam's friend and co-worker on Earth.
• James Wilkinson as Mekaneck
• Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson as Goat Man, a formidable warrior allied with Skeletor after being exiled from his tribe.
• Kojo Attah as Tri-Klops, a bounty hunter and swordsman allied with Skeletor.
• Jon Xue Zhang as Ram-Man, a Heroic Warrior known for his powerful headbutt attack.
• Sam C. Wilson as Kronis / Trap Jaw, a Gar cyborg weapons expert and ally of Skeletor.

Production

Development

A new He-Man film directed by John Woo was reportedly being developed in 2007, but despite many rumors circulating the Internet regarding the film's production status and casting, the project was never officially green-lit. The film rights to He-Man have reportedly since reverted to Mattel.

In September 2009, Sony Pictures Entertainment took over the rights from Warner Bros. Pictures to produce the live-action adaptation after Mattel and producer Joel Silver, who was previously involved with a potential film, couldn't agree on creative direction for the film. Sony and Escape Artists' Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch were to start developing the project from scratch for Sony's Columbia Pictures. In April 2010, Sony hired screenwriters Mike Finch and Alex Litvak to draft a new script. Warner announced that John Stevenson would direct the upcoming feature. In May 2009, it was announced that the scripting duties had been handed to Evan Daugherty, with Stevenson still attached to direct.

In late 2012, it was reported that Jon M. Chu was in talks to direct the film. The original He-Man actor Dolph Lundgren did an interview with IGN about a possible role in the film as King Randor. In October 2012, Richard Wenk was hired to rewrite the script for the film. In March 2013, Chu said that the film was still in early development and that it would not be campy but an origin story. In October, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Terry Rossio would scribe, and the film would be set on Eternia; the report also stated that Chu would not direct the film.

In January 2014, Schmoes Know reported that Joe Cornish, Rian Johnson, Andrés Muschietti, Kirk DeMicco, Chris Sanders, and Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were named as frontrunners to direct the film. The following month, it was reported that directors Mike Cahill, Jeff Wadlow, Harald Zwart, and Chris McKay were on the short list to direct. In April, they updated that Wadlow would direct the film, while The Hollywood Reporter announced that he was rewriting the script.

In August 2015, it was announced that Christopher Yost had been hired to re-write the film. In January 2016, Deadline reported that McG would direct the film and would also oversee a rewrite of the latest script by Finch and Litvak, with DeVon Franklin added as a producer. In June 2016, Kellan Lutz tweeted that he has a meeting with both McG and Mary Viola about the role of He-Man. In April 2017, it was announced that the film would be released on December 18, 2019. At the same time, McG left the film, and David S. Goyer had been hired to rewrite the script. In December 2017, it was reported that Goyer was now set to not only write but direct the film. In February 2018, Variety reported that Goyer had decided to step away as director to focus on other projects, but he would remain on board as an executive producer and screenwriter and the studio was said to be very happy with the script he turned in and was meeting with potential replacements. Carlos Huante, a creature designer, former artist at Industrial Light and Magic and who also worked on the original Filmation cartoon, was hired by Goyer to work on the film; however, in an interview, Huante said that Sony felt that Goyer's script would be too expensive to bring to life, as Goyer had intended for the movie to be on the epic scale of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He confirmed that Goyer's ideas for the film would no longer be used.

In April 2018, Variety reported that Aaron and Adam Nee would direct the film. In January 2019, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway were brought in and it was announced that they would write a new draft for the film. In March 2019, it was reported that Noah Centineo was in talks to play He-Man with Centineo confirming a month later that he had been officially cast in the role. In April 2021, it was reported that Centineo vacated the role of He-Man.

In January 2022, it was announced that Netflix had officially acquired the rights from Sony, after producing the animated shows Masters of the Universe: Revelation and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, with Kyle Allen cast as He-Man. It was also revealed that the Nee Brothers and David Callaham had written a new draft of the screenplay. In October 2022, Allen had stated he was working out six hours a day in preparation for the role. In July 2023, Netflix cancelled the film, after spending $30 million on development, citing budgetary concerns, leading Mattel to search for a new buyer and causing the Nee brothers to no longer be the directors for the film.

Pre-production

In November 2023, it was revealed that Amazon MGM Studios was eyeing to purchase the film rights. In February 2024, it was announced that Travis Knight was in final talks to replace the Nee brothers and become the new director of the film, with Chris Butler hired to rewrite the screenplay. In May 2024, it was officially confirmed that Knight would direct the film for Amazon MGM. Production designer Guy Hendrix Dyas joined the project to oversee visual world-building and character design. Richard Sale served as the costume designer.