We react to the new trailer that’s got fans excited for a blast of nostalgia and an action-packed summer blockbuster
After years of waiting, we finally get our first proper look at the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie. He-Man returns with a nod to nostalgia for fans. Mattel seems ready to reboot the franchise and take it back to its former glory, action figures and all. Now that the trailer is out, what do we think? Early audience reactions appear mixed. Let’s dig in.
The Trailer
It looks fun. It looks good. It looks faithful to source material — it looks…wait what!? This is why sometimes, you have to trust the director. But in this case, a few liberties have been taken by director Travis Knight. In the trailer, He-Man swings his sword sporting a skirted tunic-style loincloth, as Nicholas Galitzine looks a little, too polished to play Prince Adam. Still, we’re willing to give it a chance, given they have invested heavily in this production. But saying that, they injected a huge wad of cash into The Rings of Power.
Skeletor looks considerably CGI-heavy, though these days, you have to do what it takes to mask the smell of Jared Leto. Let’s hope he at least runs away screaming, “Until we meet again!”. The rest of the cast, however, is on point. Idris Elba embodies the bravado of Man-At-Arms, while Camila Mendes convincingly carries the part of Teela. Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn is a fantastic choice, and Leto as the antagonist is poised to get a legendary beatdown we can all get behind.
Masters of the Universe Plot
Having been sent away by his parents from Eternia for safety, Prince Adam grows up as a normal person on Earth. Despite faint inklings, he remains largely unaware of his powers, until he discovers his sword and returns to his homeworld to confront the evil forces of Skeletor.
READ MORE: Everything You Need To Know About The New He-Man Movie
Updates and Easter Eggs
While it’s no Easter egg, including Cringer is a clear signal of the faithfulness Knight hopes to achieve. Battle-Cat will likely saddle up too, though its computer-generated look feels a bit rushed and unpolished compared to pre-2007 movies.
The kingdom of Eternia is packed with castles and flying vehicles armed with laser cannons, and the composition of each frame leans heavily on the animated source material.
Our Verdict
Hype-Meter
It feels like it’s missing something, though if it’s being tipped for a summer release, they must be confident in its return. That said, it’s produced by Amazon-MGM Studios, which means there’s a high probability that audiences could get shortchanged…into a Prime membership.
The Cast
Masters of the Universe is directed by Travis Knight of Bumblebee fame, and will start several notable names, one that has been a divisive talking point.
- Prince Adam / He-Man – Nicholas Galitzine
- Young Adam – Artie Wilkinson-Hunt
- Teela – Camila Mendes
- Young Teela – Eire Farrell
- Keldor / Skeletor – Jared Leto
- Professor Evelyn Powers / Evil-Lyn – Alison Brie
- Duncan / Man-At-Arms – Idris Elba
- Sorceress of Castle Grayskull – Morena Baccarin
- Malcolm / Fisto – Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson
- King Randor – James Purefoy
- Queen Marlena Glenn – Charlotte Riley
- Suzie – Sasheer Zamata
- Roboto (voice) – Kristen Wiig
- Goat Man – Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson
- Ram-Man – Jon Xue Zhang
- Tri-Klops – Kojo Attah
- Kronis / Trap Jaw – Sam C. Wilson
- Hussein – Christian Vunipola
Production Crew and Release Date
The film is directed by Travis Knight of Bumblebee fame, and will be released on the 5th June 2026 and is promised to have a theatrical run in cinemas.
- Director – Travis Knight
- Screenplay – Chris Butler
- Story by – Aaron Nee & Adam Nee and Alex Litvak & Michael Finch
- Producers – Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Robbie Brenner, Steve Tisch
- Executive Producers – Ynon Kreiz, Bill Bannerman, David Bloomfield
- Cinematographer / Director of Photography – Fabian Wagner
- Editor – Paul Rubell
- Casting Director – Denise Chamian
- Production Designer – Guy Hendrix Dyas
- Costume Designer – Richard Sale
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