MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (2026)

Genre: Action/Fantasy
Director: Travis Knight
Cast: Nicholas Galitzine, Jared Leto, Idris Elba, Alison Brie, Morena Baccarin, James Purefoy, Camila Mendes, Charlotte Riley 
Runtime: 2 hr 21 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Violence)
Released By: Sony Pictures
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 4 June 2026

Synopsis: In Masters of the Universe, director Travis Knight brings the legendary franchise back to the big screen in this epic live-action adventure. After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) back to Eternia where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto). To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe. 

Movie Review:

Gen X and Gen Y audiences who grew up in the 1980s arguably enjoyed one of the best eras of childhood entertainment. Many had the chance to binge-watch countless animated classics, including The Smurfs, ThunderCats, Transformers, Voltron: Defender of the Universe, Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Disney cartoons, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, M.A.S.K., and of course, the legendary He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. The list goes on and on.

Among those beloved properties, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was one of the privileged few to receive a live-action adaptation—the infamous 1987 Masters of the Universe film starring Dolph Lundgren, who makes a brief cameo here to symbolically pass the torch to Nicholas Galitzine. Since then, the Mattel-owned franchise has spent years trapped in development hell, with multiple failed attempts to revive it throughout the 2010s.

Fortunately, Mattel eventually handed the reins to Travis Knight (Bumblebee, Kubo and the Two Strings) and his longtime collaborator, writer Chris Butler, to reboot the franchise for modern audiences more than four decades after the property’s debut.

After romancing Anne Hathaway in The Idea of You, English actor Nicholas Galitzine underwent a dramatic physical transformation to play Adam Glenn, better known as He-Man. In this reimagined origin story, Adam is the former Prince of Eternia, raised on Earth after escaping the clutches of the evil warlord Skeletor. Sound familiar? It bears more than a passing resemblance to Superman’s story.

To be honest, you’re not here for the plot. This isn’t The Lord of the Rings or even Harry Potter. Eventually, Adam must return to Eternia to reclaim his birthright. To do so, he joins forces with Teela (Camila Mendes), the daughter of Eternia’s military commander Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), alongside Fisto (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson), Roboto (Kristen Wiig), Mekaneck (James Wilkinson), Ram-Man (Jon Xue Zhang), and Cringer, the talking green battle cat. Together, they face Skeletor and his colourful band of henchmen, including Trap Jaw.

Knight and Butler clearly understand both the appeal and the absurdity of the source material. In retrospect, Mattel should have entrusted them with the franchise much sooner. Masters of the Universe feels as though it has been lifted straight from the 1980s cartoon series and updated with modern filmmaking sensibilities. It’s visually spectacular, energetic, and captures the spirit of a Saturday morning cartoon adventure. Unlike the 1987 film, which spent much of its time on Earth, this version embraces Eternia as its primary setting—a decision that immediately works in its favour.

The film’s visual effects, courtesy of ILM and DNEG, are somewhat uneven. Some sequences look genuinely stunning on the big screen, while others lean into a level of cheesiness that may divide audiences. Still, the filmmakers compensate with an impressive blend of practical sets, elaborate costumes and wonderfully over-the-top makeup designs that help bring Eternia to life.

The action is another pleasant surprise. Fight choreographers Vi-Dan Tran and Liang Yang deliver energetic and often exhilarating combat sequences that are far more engaging than expected. Whether it’s sword fights, hand-to-hand combat, or large-scale fantasy battles, the action rarely disappoints.

That said, the film isn’t without flaws. The opening prologue is painfully conventional and takes too long to get the story moving. Once the narrative finds its footing, however, the film develops a surprising emotional core. The playful banter between the characters adds charm, while the friendships and relationships feel genuinely heartfelt.

Galitzine emerges as the film’s biggest surprise, delivering a charismatic and convincing performance as He-Man. Alison Brie brings a delightfully campy yet restrained quality to Evil-Lyn, while Jared Leto is unexpectedly effective as the menacing Skeletor. Yes, that Jared Leto. Despite never showing his face on screen and relying heavily on voice work and prosthetic enhancements, he manages to create a memorable villain. Still, one can’t help but wonder why a performer of his profile was needed when his physical presence is almost entirely absent.

Many viewers will inevitably compare Masters of the Universe to Thor: Ragnarok or the original Guardians of the Galaxy. Yet the film distinguishes itself through its unique blend of medieval fantasy and cosmic science fiction. Knight has always excelled at infusing even the most outlandish stories with genuine heart, and Masters of the Universe is no exception.

Most importantly, it’s simply fun. The film delivers plenty of laughs, exciting set pieces, and a sense of adventure that has become increasingly rare in modern blockbuster filmmaking. Daniel Pemberton’s rousing score, featuring contributions from Queen guitarist Brian May, provides an additional boost and elevates several key moments.

After years of false starts and development setbacks, this reboot proves well worth the wait.

And if you’re wondering why certain fan-favourite characters particularly a certain magician named Orko are nowhere to be found, be sure to stay through the end credits.

Movie Rating:

(By the Power of Grayskull, Masters of the Universe delivers nearly everything fans could want from a fantasy action blockbuster)

Review by Linus Tee