Masters of the Universe (2026 film)

Masters of the Universe
Directed by	Travis Knight
Produced by	Bill Bannerman Todd Black Jason Blumenthal Robbie Brenner Steve Tisch
Written by	Chris Butler
Starring	Nicholas Galitzine Camila Mendes
Production company	Amazon MGM Studios Escape Artists Mattel Films The Fusion Media
Distributed by	Amazon MGM Studios
Release date	June 5, 2026

Masters of the Universe is an upcoming film anticipated for release on Amazon Prime.

In 2019, Sony announced that the film would be released on March 5, 2021. However, in January 2020, it was reported that the film had been pulled from Sony's release schedule, with its March 2021 release date being replaced with a different film. A new release date Is expected for 2026 and has been moved to Amazon MGM Studios.

Plot

The film will follow 10-year-old Prince Adam who crashed to Earth in a spaceship and was separated from his magical Power Sword—the only link to his home on Eternia. After tracking it down almost two decades later, Prince Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor. But to defeat such a powerful villain, Prince Adam will first need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man: the most powerful man in the Universe!

Cast

• Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam/He-Man
  • Artie Wilkinson-Hunt as Young Prince Adam
• Camila Mendes as Teela
  • Eire Farrell as Young Teela
• Idris Elba as Man-at-Arms
• TBA as Cringer/Battle Cat
• TBA as Orko
• Morena Baccarin as Sorceress
• Jon Xue Zhang as Ram Man
• TBA as Man-E-Faces
• TBA as Stratos
• Stephen Adentan as Moss Man
• Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Fisto
• James Wilkinson as Mekaneck
• James Purefoy as King Randor
• Charlotte Riley as Queen Marlena
• Jared Leto as Skeletor
• Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn
• TBA as Beast Man
• Sam C. Wilson as Trap Jaw
• TBA as Mer-Man
• Kojo Attah as Tri-Klops
• Hafthor Bjornsson as Goat Man
• Sasheer Zamata as Suzie
• Christian Vunipola as Hussein

Production

A new He-Man movie directed by John Woo was reportedly being developed, but despite many rumors circulating around 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.

As recently as fall of 2008, there was a new feature film in development entitled Grayskull: Masters of the Universe, produced by Joel Silver and written by Justin Marks. The film would reportedly employ visual effects to a large degree, as was done with 300. An alleged script has been leaked. Recently, the studio announced that director John Stevenson will take on directing duties, probably with a new screenplay. In September 2009, Sony took over the rights from Warner Bros. to produce the Masters of the Universe live-action film after Mattel and Silver couldn't agree on creative direction for the film. Sony and Escape Artists' Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch will now start developing the project from scratch for Columbia Pictures.

According to Variety, it is produced by Joel Silver, and written by Justin Marks, and employing visual special effects to a large degree, as was done with the 2007 war film 300. Warner announced that John Stevenson, director of Kung Fu Panda will direct the upcoming feature. On 12 May 2009 it was announced that the scripting duties had been handed to newcomer Evan Daugherty, with John Stevenson still attached to direct.

In September 2009, Sony took over the rights from Warner Bros. to produce the Masters of the Universe live action film after Mattel and Silver couldn't agree on creative direction for the film. Sony and Escape Artists Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch will now start developing the project from scratch for Columbia Pictures. In April 2010, Sony hired screenwriters Mike Finch and Alex Litvak to draft a new script.

Deadline reports that Jon M. Chu is in talks to direct the film. Original He-Man actor Dolph Lundgren did an interview with IGN about a possibly appear in the film as King Randor. Richard Wenk is hired to rewrite the script for the film. Chu spoken that the film is still early is in the experimentation and also it won't be campy but an origin story. On October 7, 2013, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Terry Rossio will write the film & Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch are producing the film and it will set on Eternia, the site also report that Chu will not direct the film. On February 26, 2014, it was reported that directors Mike Cahill, Jeff Wadlow, Harald Zwart and Chris McKay are on the shortlist to direct the film. On April 9, 2014, Schmoes Know reported that Wadlow will direct the film, but The Hollywood Reporter announced that he's rewriting the script. Columbia Pictures Senior Vice President, DeVon Franklin has tweeted that the film's script has been completed by Jeff Wadlow. Franklin later tweeted a photo on his Twitter page of Battle Cat.

On August 19, 2015, Variety reports that Christopher Yost will rewrite the script. Mike O'Hearn announced on his Instagram account that he's training to star as He-Man. However, he himself quashed the rumor saying he only wanted to do the part and was not officially cast for the live-action movie. On January 22, 2016, Deadline reports that McG will direct the film and will also oversee a rewrite of the latest script by Alex Litvak and Mike Finch, while Escape Artists' Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch are on board as producers.

On June 24, 2016, Kellan Lutz tweeted on his Twitter page that he has a meeting with both McG and Mary Viola about having the role of He-Man. McG told IGN about the film that it hasn't cast the role of He-Man yet. It won't be set in Eternia, though Earth is mentioned as it's largely an Eternia story. It was announced that Sony will release the movie on December 18, 2019. Along with the release date confirmation it was announced that McG was no longer directing the film. His replacement is currently being searched for; however, according to Entertainment Weekly, David S. Goyer has been brought in to write the script.

In February 2018, Variety reports that Goyer has decided to step away as director to focus on other projects but he will remain on board as an executive producer and screenwriter and the studio is said to be very happy with the script he turned in and is currently meeting with potential replacements. In April 2018, another Variety report stated that Aaron Nee and Adam Nee were set to direct the film. On January 11, 2019, Deadline reports that Art Marcum and Matt Holloway will rewrite a new draft for the film. Principal photography will begin on July 15, 2019, and wrap on October 18, 2019, with Prague as one of the shooting locations. On February 13, 2019, it was reported that principal photography on the film will begin in mid-July 2019 in Prague and will be directed by the Nee Brothers. On March 20, 2019, it was reported that Noah Centineo is in talks to play He-Man. On April 29, 2019, Centineo in an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, confirmed that he will be playing He-Man in the upcoming film. Sony announced that the film's release date was changed to March 5, 2021. In October 2019, The Hollywood Reporter had reported a rumor that Sony would sell the movie to Netflix. On January 24, 2020, the film has been taken off its release schedule with the film adaptation of Uncharted, which also got its release date changed, taking its place before that film changed its release date again.

On April 29, 2021, a representative for Centineo announced that he would no longer play He-Man in the film.

On January 28, 2022, it was announced that Netflix had officially acquired the film from Sony and that Kyle Allen would now play He-Man. It was also revealed that David Callaham had written a new draft of the screenplay along with the Nee Brothers, with production was set to begin in Summer 2022.

On July 18, 2023, it was announced that Netflix has canceled the film but Mattel was looking for a new studio to buy the project. On November 13, 2023, it was announced that Amazon MGM Studios was in talks to acquire the film.

On February 13, 2024, it was reported that Travis Knight was in final talks to direct the film. On May 1, 2024, it was officially confirmed that Knight would direct the film for Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel Films. A theatrical release of June 5, 2026 was also revealed. ParaNorman director Chris Butler would be writing the screenplay, following initial drafts written by Callaham and the Nee brothers. Mattel Films' Robbie Brenner, Escape Artists' Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch are producing the film. The film will depict a ten-year-old Prince Adam as he crashes on Earth, separating him from his Power Sword; he would eventually retrieve the sword and take on the mantle of He-Man two decades later as he battles for his home planet, Eternia, against the evil forces of Skeletor. On May 29, 2024, it was announced that Nicholas Galitzine was cast as He-Man. On August 15, 2024, Camila Mendes was cast as Teela.

Gallery

Promotional images

First Promotional Picture of He-Man

External links

• Masters of the Universe (2026 film) on the Internet Movie Database