(Left) Morena Baccarin as Lorena Nascimento in ‘Last Looks’. Photo: RLJE Films. (Right) The Sorceress in ‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ 1980’s Cartoon. Photo: Filmation Associates.
Preview:
- Morena Baccarin, James Purefoy are joining the ‘Masters of the Universe’ movie.
- It’ll adapt the ‘He-Man’ toy line.
- ‘Bumblebee’s Travis Knight is the directing the film.
With the cameras rolling at last on the long-developing (more on that chaos below) ‘Masters of the Universe’ movie, there is more news on the cast, which has been growing in the last few days.
Travis Knight, who might be more known as the boss (and one of the main directors) for stop-motion studio Laika, but who has been forging ahead with a live-action helming on movies such as ‘Transformers’ spin-off ‘Bumblebee,’ will call the shots on the new movie.
As for the cast, it already includes Nicholas Galitzine (as the heroic central figure He-Man), Camila Mendes (as warrior woman Teela), Jared Leto (as the big villain, Skeletor), Idris Elba (playing Duncan/Man-at-Arms, who is Teela’s adoptive father).
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
And now we have a whole host of extra casting news, with Deadline bringing word of ‘Deadpool’s Morena Baccarin in the role of The Sorceress and Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson (on screens now in ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ in the role of Malcolm/Fisto.
The Hollywood Reporter, meanwhile, has the news that ‘Agatha All Along’s Sasheer Zamata, Jon Xue Zhang (an actor and stunt performer who was seen on Netflix’s ‘The Brothers Sun’ and ‘Queenpins’ Christian Vunipola are all now also aboard.
Related Article: ‘Masters of the Universe’: Nicholas Galitzine to Play He-Man in the New Movie
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 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 (whose acolytes include Evil-Lyn).
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.
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.
Amazon MGM Studios has the rights now, with Knight in charge, and that version has actually gone into production. Fingers crossed it makes it to screens!
What’s the story for the new ‘Masters of the Universe’ movie?
‘Masters of the Universe’ toys. Photo: Mattel.
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 studio.
And the story itself remains the biggest mystery here. While it’s expected to stick to some sort of conflict between He-Man and Skeletor, there has been a rumored plotline floating around, albeit one that has seen zero confirmation from either the studio or filmmakers.
Still, if you’re interested, it reportedly 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.
Who else has been cast in ‘Masters of the Universe’?
(Left) Alison Brie as Amber in ‘Spin Me Round.’ (Right) Evil-Lyn from ‘Masters of the Universe: Revolution’. Photo: Netflix.
Alongside the aforementioned main cast, there is a sprawling ensemble around them.
‘Community’s Alison Brie is playing Skeletor’s sorceress lieutenant Evil-Lyn, we now know that Sam C. Wilson will fill the part of Trap Jaw, Hafthor Bjornsson will play Goat Man and Kojo Attah has landed the role of Tri-Klops.
Who are the new characters?
The Sorceress in ‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ 1980’s Cartoon. Photo: Filmation Associates.
Baccarin’s Sorceress watches over Castle Grayskull, guarding the secrets and wisdom contained therein. She’s quite the powerful force and can only use her abilities when confined in the castle. Outside Grayskull, she becomes Zoar, a falcon, who communicates telepathically with trusted friends.
Fisto’s story began as a villain before he became a hero. He gets his name from his huge, mailed fist. and has talent for trapping and training wild animals; he has a pet Arachna.
Ram-Man is a warrior known for using his head as a battering ram (the name, like so many ‘He-Man’ characters, rather gives it away).
James Purefoy and Charlotte Riley are playing King Randor and Queen Marlena, who are Prince Adam’s parents.
Zamata’s character, meanwhile, is named Susie, who doesn’t appear in ‘He-Man’ canon, so we’re going to assume she’s a regular human who meets the characters. Likewise Vunipola’s character which is called Hussein.
When will ‘Masters of the Universe’ be on screens?
Amazon/MGM studios is aiming to have the movie in theaters on June 5th, 2026.
‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ 1980’s Cartoon. Photo: Filmation Associates.
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