(Left) Camila Mendes on ‘Riverdale’. Photo: Warner Bros. Television Studios. (Right) Teela on ‘Masters of the Universe: Revelation’. Photo: Netflix.
Preview:
- ‘Riverdale’s Camila Mendes will be Teela in Amazon MGM’s ‘Masters of the Universe’ movie.
- She joins Nicholas Galitzine, who’s playing He-Man.
- Travis Knight is in the director’s chair.
After defeating previous efforts to turn it into a new movie, the 1980s ‘Masters of the Universe’ toy line (and its attendant cartoon series) might finally have met its match.
Though the ‘Masters’ concept has led to success for Netflix on the small screen, it is Amazon MGM that has spearheaded a fresh cinematic take on the concept, with ‘The Idea of You’s Nicholas Galitzine playing central character He-Man and ‘Bumblebee’s Travis Knight directing.
Now, via Deadline, we have word that ‘Riverdale’s Camila Mendes will also be aboard the film, playing warrior woman Teela.
Almost two decades after crashing down to Earth, Prince Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet of Eternia against the evil forces of Skeletor…. Read the Plot
What has happened with the movie’s development so far?
‘Masters of the Universe’ toys. Photo: Mattel.
‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ follows Prince Adam, who has a magic sword that turns him into the powerful, heroic He-Man. He and his comrades (including Teela, the Captain of the Royal Guard) must protect the planet of Eternia from the evil machinations of villain Skeletor.
A live-action big screen version in 1987 starring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor flopped at the box office, which scuttled a planned sequel.
“A battle fought in the stars…now comes to Earth.”
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1 hr 46 minAug 7th, 1987
The new live-action version has torn a path through filmmakers and studios. Directors such as ‘Face/Off’s John Woo, ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Jon M. Chu and ‘Truth Or Dare’s Jeff Wadlow have been attached at one time or another, but the movie has always fallen apart.
Netflix was the most recent company to try, hiring directing siblings Adam and Aaron Nee, the duo behind 2015’s indie movie ‘Band of Robbers’ and 2022’s ‘The Lost City’, who were also attached to a Sony attempt, working on the script with ‘Man Of Steel’s David S. Goyer.
Related Article: ‘Masters of the Universe’: Nicholas Galitzine to Play He-Man in the New Movie
What’s the story for the new ‘Masters of the Universe’ movie?
‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ 1980’s Cartoon. Photo: Filmation Associates.
Knight is working from a new draft of the script by Chris Butler –– to whom he’s already connected, as Butler has written or directed several animated movies produced by Knight’s Laika stop-motion animation studio.
The new movie reportedly (there has been no official confirmation) revolves around 9–year-old Prince Adam crashing to Earth in a spaceship and being separated from his Magical Sword –– the only link to his home on Eternia.
After tracking it down almost two decades later, 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 first will need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.
Here’s what Amazon MGM Studios head of film production and development Julie Rapaport said about the new development:
“We’re thrilled to bring the beloved Masters of the Universe to life and couldn’t be more excited to announce the immensely talented Nicholas Galitzine as our He-Man. Joining forces with director Travis Knight, Mattel, and Escape Artists, this reintroduction of the character and his universe will be an epic film that will delight audiences from here to Eternia.”
Camila Mendes: Career So Far
Camila Mendes on ‘Riverdale’. Photo: Warner Bros. Television Studios.
Mendes might be best known for playing Veronica Lodge in ‘Riverdale’. But she’s also been seen in the cinematic likes of ‘Palm Springs’, ‘Dangerous Lives’, ‘Do Revenge’, and recent Amazon MGM efforts ‘Música’ and ‘Upgraded’.
When will ‘Masters of the Universe’ be on screens?
Amazon/MGM studios is aiming to have the movie in theaters on June 5th, 2026.
‘Masters of the Universe’ toys. Photo: Mattel.
