‘Masters of the Universe’ Boldly Brings the Beloved He-Man to Life With a Marvelous Edge
By Victoria Luxford
Jun 2, 2026
It’s incredible to think that there have been no live-action adaptations of Masters of the Universe since Dolph Lundgren declared he had the power in 1987. That version was critically derided but has since gained a cult following, while follow-ups to the original cartoon series have kept the franchise alive and popular.
Attempts at a live action update have been ongoing since the mid-2000s, with directors like John Woo, John M. Chu, and McG all connected to projects at some point. However, finally Adam, Prince of Eternia, is heading to the big screen, thanks to Bumblebee filmmaker Travis Knight. So, is it worth the wait?
What Is ‘Masters of the Universe’ About?
The movie begins on the distant planet of Eternia, ruled by a just King and Queen (James Purefoy and Charlotte Riley) who defend their kingdom from its enemies. Their son, Prince Adam, is not quite the heir to the throne they expected, struggling in battle practice, much to the dismay of his teacher, Duncan AKA Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba). However, when invading forces overcome the kingdom’s defenses, Adam is smuggled away to Earth with the Sword of Power, a talisman which contains the magic of his home planet. After the weapon is lost during transport, the child is stranded and grows up as a human.
15 years later, Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) is a malcontent twenty-something working in HR who tries to convince anyone who will listen that his memories of his home planet are true. He’s proved right when he discovers the sword and is found by childhood friend Teela (Camilla Mendes), who brings him back home. He is shocked to see that his parents’ kingdom has been destroyed and conquered by the evil sorcerer Skeletor (Jared Leto), with those who survived broken and skeptical about his return. Determined to win back the throne from the tyrant, he uses the Sword of Power to become He-Man, a mighty warrior with the physical prowess to beat any foe. However, his newfound abilities will mean nothing if he can’t overcome his past and learn what it means to be a leader.
‘Masters of the Universe’ Embraces the Franchise’s History, with Some Marvel Inspiration
Part of the reason for the delay in a Master of the Universe movie is that some aspects of the cartoon series might not translate well to live action. As with certain comic book characters, He-Man is harder to say with a straight face on screen than it would be in the heightened reality of a cartoon, along with allies like Fist-O and Mekaneck. As such, Galitzine’s character is mostly referred to as Adam, while a clever narrative device explains the other names.
However, that doesn’t mean Knight doesn’t include a treasure trove of fan service. To start with, both Eternia and the characters that inhabit it are remarkably faithful to the cartoon, to the point where it feels like they leaped from the animation into real life. There are numerous nods to the 1987 film, from the return of the legendary Pig Boy to a cameo everyone will be hoping for. The set, effects, and overall look of the movie will be a delight for anyone who wants to see the source material fully realized.
The similarities continue with the narrative, as it goes big on the action and the gags. Some truly impressive set-pieces, such as the opening invasion of Castle Grayskull, are everything a summer blockbuster should be. Meanwhile, the punchlines come quick and frequently, as it becomes abundantly clear this is a movie that doesn’t take itself at all seriously. There are some parallels with Knight’s Bumblebee, where lore is occasionally questioned by characters as being on-the-nose. Sometimes the wackiness can come at the cost of more serious moments (such as a sequence during a final duel where Skeletor appears in Adam’s memories), but the intention is to entertain rather than reinvent. For the most part, it succeeds.
The film takes a lot of cues from the Thor franchise: it follows the basic plot of the first movie (a lovable but oafish prince stuck on Earth separated from the weapon that gives him powers), while the tone has elements of 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok. There are echoes of that film’s Led Zeppelin-soundtracked moment in Masters of the Universe’s climactic battle, which begins with Queen‘s “Princes of the Universe.” It’s at its happiest when throwing everything at the screen, and the energy can be infectious.
Nicholas Galitzine Makes He-Man Human in ‘Masters of the Universe’
The film’s British-born star could be considered an unusual choice for the lead role, given he has made his name as a romantic lead more than an action hero. However, Galitzine bulks up and embraces the part, playing Adam as a good-hearted but wholly inept savior who finds his feet as he goes along. There’s something childlike to him that is endearing, as he tries to solve problems with words only to be punched across a room. He shows Adam’s progression well, growing into the role of a leader and looking the part as he wields the Sword of Power.
Previous versions of the character haven’t always had the most depth, and so it’s to the movie’s credit that the heart of the film lies in Adam finding a balance between the conflict-averse, office jargon-spouting persona he had on Earth and the inspiring leader he needs to be to save his kingdom. Making a muscle-bound prince with the power of a god the underdog is no mean feat, but the Red, White and Royal Blue star offers enough to make you cheer for his success. While he would have been out of place in the era of dark superhero films, he fits well alongside more emotionally in-tune saviors like James Gunn’s Superman.
Of the supporting cast, Elba is the standout as Duncan, a former military leader turned drunk who is haunted by his failure years ago. His personal redemption is a satisfying subplot, as both he and Adam prove themselves to the heroic Teela, who knows the prince is the hero they need despite being rough around the edges. Most of the other Eternian characters are comedy relief, from the wise-cracking Roboto (Kristen Wiig), to Ram-Man (Jon Xue Chang) and the other warriors looking to overthrow Skeletor. Purely dramatic characters, such as Purefoy’s King Randor, feel out of place, but on the whole, the cast’s banter keeps the action racing along.
Jared Leto’s Skeletor Fits ‘Masters of the Universe’s Tone (But He’s No Frank Langella)
One of the truly difficult tasks for Knight and his team is creating Skeletor, Adam’s nemesis and an all-time icon of villainy. The original animated version was comedic, with a shrill laugh and manic temperament. The 1987 movie version was played by Frank Langella, who gave a performance that has since been celebrated as one of the best interpretations of the character. In the midst of a camp and troubled production, the future Oscar nominee would play the role as if he were reciting Shakespeare. Future versions have fallen somewhere in between, but Leto opts for something more cartoonish.
With a skull for a head and a voice that sits somewhere between Tim Curry in Rocky Horror Picture Show and Stewie from Family Guy, it’s clear from the beginning that you aren’t intended to cower in fear of him. He throws tantrums when his minions don’t laugh along with his jokes, has a flirty back-and-forth with Evil-Lyn (played by a deliciously camp Alison Brie), and exclaims “Oh, balls!” when Adam gets the better of him. Both the actor and the performance will be divisive, as those wishing for a darker take will be disappointed. However, he is a fitting villain for a movie with as light a tone as this.
Far from a gritty reimagining, this new version of Masters of the Universe is determined to wink at the camera and appeal to your nostalgia. Not everything works, and it would have been nice to have a more menacing villain, but it’s a good time if you leave your cynicism at the door.
