He-Man is back, because apparently Eternia was due for a reboot
Is He-Man Mattel’s next Barbie? Probably not. But Masters of the Universe could still give the toy company a fresh movie franchise, which is the sort of thing Hollywood keeps trying until it works or everyone gets distracted by something shinier.
Amazon MGM and Mattel Studios have released the first trailer for the live-action film, which brings the 1980s toy line and animated series into the present with a very serious face and a sword that clearly means business.
The official setup goes like this: after being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam, played by Nicholas Galitzine, back to Eternia. There he finds his home in ruins under the rule of Skeletor, with Jared Leto in the role. To save his family and his world, Adam has to team up with his allies Teela, played by Camila Mendes, and Duncan, also known as Man-At-Arms, played by Idris Elba, and accept his fate as He-Man, “the most powerful man in the universe.”
The cast and creative team
The film is directed by Travis Knight and also features:
- Alison Brie
- James Purefoy
- Morena Baccarin
- Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson
- Charlotte Riley
- Kristen Wiig as the voice of Roboto
The project has taken a long, rather heroic route to the screen. Development reportedly began in 2007, with John Woo once attached to direct. Over the years, the script went through multiple rewrites as different writers tried to crack the story.
Eventually, the movie was greenlit with a story by Aaron and Adam Nee, Alex Litvak and Michael Finch, and a screenplay by Chris Butler, Aaron and Adam Nee, and Dave Callaham.
Masters of the Universe opens in theaters on June 5.
