The forthcoming film adaptation “Masters of the Universe” will feature English actor Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, the blond barbarian who served as the inspiration for the beloved Mattel toy.
Travis Knight, the director of “Bumblebee,” is helming the film for Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel. The film, which has been postponed for an extended period, will be released in theaters on June 5, 2026.
The journey to the big screen for “Masters of the Universe” has been particularly arduous, spanning over two decades.
The project was initiated at Warner Bros. and Sony before being transferred to Netflix, which terminated it in 2023 due to budgetary constraints. Since 2007, the film has been the subject of numerous directors, such as John Stevenson, the director of “Kung Fu Panda,” Jon M. Chu, the director of “Wicked,” McG, and Aaron and Adam Nee, the directors of “The Lost City.”
Actor Kyle Allen, who starred in “West Side Story,” was once considered for the role of He-Man; however, the exact date at which these negotiations disintegrated is unknown.
The screenplay is currently being written by Chris Butler, following an initial attempt at the script by David Callaham and the Nee brothers, which was inspired by the 1982 action figure.
The specifics of the plot are being withheld. The studio’s previous synopsis of “Masters of the Universe” indicated that Prince Adam, also known as Dr. He-Man, who crashes into Earth as a juvenile in a spaceship and, decades later, returns to his native planet to protect it from the malevolent forces of the villain Skeletor. However, in order to overcome the formidable adversary, he must decode the secrets of his past and assume the identity of He-Man, who is known as “the most powerful man in the universe” in this world.
Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch of Escape Artists, as well as Robbie Brenner of Mattel Films, will serve as producers for “Masters of the Universe.” It is one of 15 live-action motion pictures in development at Mattel Films, with some being more intriguing than others. These films include “Barney” starring Daniel Kaluuya, “Bob the Builder” animated by Jennifer Lopez and Anthony Ramos, “Uno” a robbery mystery starring rapper Lil Yachty, and “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots” starring Vin Diesel. The sole film produced by Mattel to date is the billion-dollar blockbuster “Barbie,” which was distributed by Warner Bros.
“We are overjoyed to bring the beloved ‘Masters of the Universe’ to life and are even more thrilled to announce the immensely talented Nicholas Galitzine as our He-Man,” stated Julie Rapaport, director of film production and development at Amazon MGM Studios. “This epic film will captivate audiences from the present day to the end of time as it reintroduces the character and his universe.”
After most recently appearing in the romantic comedy “The Idea of You” opposite Anne Hathaway, Galitzine’s association with Amazon MGM Studios is furthered by “Masters of the Universe.”
He also appeared in the studio’s “Red, White & Royal Blue” adaptation and will be featured in the upcoming sequel. Galitzine’s additional accomplishments include the Netflix series “Purple Hearts” and the Amazon remake of “Cinderella,” which features Camila Cabello.