Masters of the Universe: New picture of He-Man released
Filming has officially been completed!
Filming on the new "Masters of the Universe" movie from Amazon has officially been completed. This was announced by lead actor Nicholas Galitzine on his Instagram account – and there's also a new picture of him in the He-Man costume!
Appropriately, he wrote:
"Well, that's a wrap on "Masters of the Universe". It has been an honour shouldering the responsibility of playing Adam and He Man. It's been the role of a lifetime and I put everything into it. There's not much I can show you, but I am so proud of the movie we've made. Thanks to our amazing cast and crew for all your hard work."
According to initial reports, the new "Masters of the Universe" movie will deliver a very unique take on the well-known He-Man origin story. Unlike the classic versions, the story begins not on the planet Eternia, but on Earth: ten-year-old Adam crashes a spaceship and loses his magic sword – his only link to his distant homeland. Separated from his origins and his destiny, Adam embarks on a year-long journey that eventually leads him back to Eternia. There he must face his past and find the courage to transform into He-Man to fight the sinister Skeletor.
Earth played no role in the original animated series. One exception was the 1987 live-action film starring Dolph Lundgren, in which He-Man was relocated to American New Jersey for budget reasons. The new version, however, seems to make a conscious narrative decision to make Adam's story more emotional and modern.
Alongside Galitzine, we will see Camila Mendes as Teela – Adam's protector and Duncan's daughter. Duncan's role, better known as Man-At-Arms, will be played by none other than Idris Elba. Duncan's brother Fisto will also play a role in the film. The powerful sorceress Evil-Lyn, one of the central antagonists, will be played by Alison Brie. And of course Skeletor, embodied by Jared Leto, is also a must.
The "Masters of the Universe" remake is being directed by Travis Knight. The film is scheduled to be released worldwide on June 5, 2026 – exclusively in cinemas. The film will then be available on Prime Video.
"Masters of the Universe": The path to becoming a cult icon for an entire generation
When Mattel launched the first 'Masters of the Universe' action figures in 1982, nobody could have guessed that He-Man and his companions would soon become an integral part of pop culture. With exaggerated muscle bodies, magical weapons and exotic names such as Man-At-Arms, Beast Man or Skeletor, the toy shelf took an entire generation of children – especially boys – by storm. What began as a marketing product quickly developed into a multimedia phenomenon.
Cartoons as the engine of success
The animated TV series "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe", which was launched in 1983, made a decisive contribution to its cult status. In 130 episodes, the adventures of Prince Adam, alias He-Man, were told as he battled the dark forces of Skeletor with his magic sword. The series was not only characterized by colourful action and fantastic locations, but also by moral messages at the end of each episode. He-Man was therefore not only a hero with superhuman powers, but also a role model – at least on television.
The first movie: a flop with a cult factor
In 1987, Mattel tried to transfer the success to the movies. With Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor, the first live-action film was made. Although it was a commercial failure, it developed into a trash classic over the years. The mixture of science fiction, fantasy and unintentional comedy gave the film a charm all of its own, which is still appreciated by fans today – even if it strayed far from the original material.
Return of the legend to the modern age
After a long break, the franchise celebrated a renaissance from the 2000s onwards. New comics, collector's figures and series – such as "Masters of the Universe: Revelation" on Netflix – brought the heroes of Eternia back into the limelight. In the process, He-Man was increasingly adapted for an adult audience who had grown up with the characters and now cherished their nostalgia.
Why "Masters of the Universe" is still fascinating today
The enduring cult status of "Masters of the Universe" is no coincidence. The franchise combines classic narrative structures – the young hero, fate, the battle between good and evil – with a unique visual style. Characters such as He-Man, Skeletor and Orko have long since become archetypes. They regularly reappear in parodies, memes and pop culture references.
A new chapter begins
The next chapter in the story of "Masters of the Universe" is about to begin with the feature film announced for 2026. New actors, modern effects and a revised origin story should delight old fans and win over new ones. The fact that He-Man is conquering cinema screens again almost 45 years after his creation proves that "Masters of the Universe" has long been more than just a children's toy – it is a cult that connects generations.