By 
Masters of the Universe (2026)
Witness how he became He-Man.
For decades, a new Masters of the Universe movie seemed destined to remain trapped somewhere between Castle Grayskull and development hell. After years of false starts, changing studios, rotating directors, cancelled versions and endless fan speculation, the long-awaited return of He-Man has finally arrived in the form of director Travis Knight’s big-screen adaptation of the beloved Mattel franchise. Following the cult success of the 1987 live-action film starring Dolph Lundgren, fans have spent almost forty years waiting for another journey to Eternia. Now, with Nicholas Galitzine stepping into the role of Prince Adam / He-Man and Jared Leto donning the skull-faced mantle of Skeletor, Masters of the Universe aims to bring the Sword of Power back to cinemas for a new generation.
The film follows Adam Glenn (Nicholas Galitzine), Prince Adam of Eternia, who has spent much of his life hidden away on Earth and stuck in the dull world of corporate office life. Separated from his home and the legendary Sword of Power for fifteen years, Adam has never fully escaped the pull of Eternia, still searching for the sword he remembers from childhood and the destiny he has yet to embrace. When the Sword of Power finally leads him back home, Adam returns to Eternia only to discover a kingdom shattered under Skeletor’s iron grip and the looming shadow of Castle Grayskull itself. Alongside Teela (Camila Mendes), Duncan / Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba) and a host of allies and warriors, Adam must unlock the power within, embrace his birthright as He-Man and stand against the forces threatening not only Eternia, but the wider universe itself. By the Power of Grayskull, talk about a rough career change.
What Travis Knight clearly understands is that Masters of the Universe should be fun. The screenplay by Chris Butler, Aaron Nee, Adam Nee and David Callaham never feels embarrassed by its source material, wholly embracing the colorful fantasy-adventure spirit that made the original cartoon such a phenomenon throughout the 1980s. There are oversized staffs, cybernetic warriors, themed fortresses and enough Sword of Power heroics to satisfy long-time fans. Most importantly, the movie captures the retro energy of classic Saturday morning cartoons without ever feeling like a parody. It knows exactly what it is, and thankfully, so does the audience.
However, while the adventure is entertaining, it doesn’t quite possess the full Power of Grayskull when it comes to originality. Ironically, despite finally spending far more time on Eternia than the 1987 film ever could, much of what works here remains surprisingly familiar. We once again have recognizable faces such as the sorceress Evil-Lyn (Alison Brie) and soldier Duncan / Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), alongside returning villainous figures like Beast Man (Gary Martin) and Karg (Hung Dante Dong), plus the same kind of fantasy heroics seen in the ’87 film. Sure, this version expands the roster considerably, bringing in fan favorites including Fisto (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson), Mekaneck (James Wilkinson), Ram-Man (Jon Xue Zhang), Spikor (James Apps) and Trap Jaw (Sam C. Wilson), among others, giving long-time fans plenty to smile about. Yet beyond the larger character list and expanded Eternian setting, there’s not much here that feels especially new. Battle Cat — or Cringer, depending on which side of the transformation you’re talking about — is present, but surprisingly underused. Fans hoping for wall-to-wall Battle Cat action may find themselves wanting a little more roar.
That said, the screenplay does have some clever ideas, particularly in the way it uses what Adam has picked up from living on Earth for so long. Before he’s swinging the Sword of Power, Adam is trapped in the soul-draining world of corporate office culture, and the movie gets some good mileage out of it. There’s something genuinely funny about watching the future champion of Eternia bring ordinary Earth logic — workplace diplomacy, presentation-speak and corporate problem-solving — into a world filled with warriors, monsters and magic. It gives the movie some amusing yet relatable laughs and gives Galitzine’s Adam a slightly different flavour from previous versions. I guess even He-Man needed transferable skills.
Corporate Casual Meets Eternia.
Speaking of Galitzine, he does a solid job carrying the film. As Adam / He-Man, he looks the part, handles the action well and brings enough charm to make Adam likeable before he fully steps into hero mode. And yes, the movie knows exactly what it’s doing in the He-Man physique department, with Galitzine sporting the kind of heroic, ridiculously sculpted screen presence that makes the “most powerful man in the universe” title a lot easier to buy. Camila Mendes fits nicely as Teela, his strong-willed childhood friend and warrior, as well as the daughter of Man-At-Arms. James Purefoy lends real authority to King Randor, Adam’s father and the ruler of Eternia, while Morena Baccarin proves a natural fit as the Sorceress, the mystical guardian of Castle Grayskull. Kristen Wiig also injects some welcome personality into Roboto, the mechanical combatant who could have easily been a throwaway side character. Idris Elba, meanwhile, slips comfortably into Duncan / Man-At-Arms, Eternia’s veteran weapons master and Teela’s father, even if some viewers may find themselves comparing him to Jon Cypher’s previous live-action incarnation.
But let’s be honest. The real Master of the Universe here is Jared Leto. His Skeletor absolutely steals the show. While the character could easily have become cartoonishly silly or unintentionally camp, Leto somehow finds the right balance between theatrical villainy, intimidation and humor. This is a very different take from Alan Oppenheimer’s iconic high-pitched cartoon version, but it works extremely well on its own terms, giving the character a darker, more imposing screen presence without losing his larger-than-life appeal. Every scene he’s in gains an extra jolt of energy. He chews scenery with the enthusiasm of a Saturday morning baddie while still remaining genuinely menacing. The movie comes alive whenever Skeletor appears, and Leto understands exactly what kind of film he’s in. It is easily the strongest live-action version of the character to date.
As expected, the production is impressive. Guy Hendrix Dyas’ production design gives Eternia a grand sense of scale, while Richard Sale’s costume work remains faithful to the classic character designs while still making them work in live action. Castle Grayskull feels suitably mythical, the world-building is bright and appealing, and the action sequences are kick ass, with plenty of flying bodies, clanging weapons and Saturday-morning antics. Knight keeps the pace lively, and one of the film’s best bursts of energy comes during a terrific forest chase involving alien spacecraft. The movie as a whole runs about fifteen minutes too long, but the momentum rarely disappears completely.
At the same time, there is a certain safety to the overall package. When compared to something as gloriously weird, wild and imaginative as 2023’s Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Masters of the Universe occasionally feels a little too restrained. Given the sheer insanity of the source material, there are moments where you wish the filmmakers had unleashed more of the universe’s wonderfully bonkers potential. It’s boisterous, polished and very easy to enjoy, but you can’t help feeling that Eternia still has more waiting to be let loose.
The rock-infused score from Daniel Pemberton works well throughout and the soundtrack is packed with the kind of retro-flavored energy that fits the film’s nostalgic DNA perfectly. Fans will also enjoy the numerous references sprinkled throughout. The biggest crowd-pleasing nod comes via Dolph Lundgren, who appears in a fun cameo role that serves as a passing-of-the-sword moment between generations of He-Man. It’s a brief appearance, but one that earns a grin. The best callback, however, arrives right at the end. Without spoiling too much, the movie concludes with a wonderful little “moral of the story” segment that directly channels the classic cartoon’s educational endings. For anyone who grew up watching He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, it’s a charming tribute to the 1980s show.
Overall, Masters of the Universe may not completely transform the franchise, but it delivers exactly what many fans have been waiting decades to see. It embraces the mythology, respects the cartoons, gives audiences a scene-stealing Skeletor and lets Eternia take center stage on the big screen. That’s enough to make the journey back to Eternia worthwhile. It may not be the most powerful fantasy film in the universe, but it’s colorful, nostalgic, energetic and leaves the door wide open for bigger adventures ahead. And after so many years lost in the wastelands of development hell, that alone is worth shouting “I have the power!” about.
3 / 5 – Good
Reviewed by Dan Cachia (Mr. Movie)
Masters of the Universe is distributed by Sony Pictures Australia
