Nicholas Galitzine, known for his roles in “The Idea of You” and “Red, White & Royal Blue,” has been cast as He-Man in the upcoming film adaptation of “Masters of the Universe.” The movie, directed by Travis Knight of “Bumblebee” and “Kubo and the Two Strings” fame, will be released in theaters on June 5, 2026.
A Long Journey to the Big Screen
The path to bringing “Masters of the Universe” to theaters has been fraught with delays and changes. Originally set up at Warner Bros. and Sony, the project faced numerous setbacks before moving to Netflix, which ultimately dropped it in 2023 due to budget concerns. Now, Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel are moving forward with the project.
Several directors have been attached to the film over the years, including John Stevenson, Jon M. Chu, McG, and Aaron and Adam Nee. At one point, “West Side Story” actor Kyle Allen was slated to play He-Man, but the talks fell apart.
Plot and Production Details
Chris Butler is writing the screenplay, following initial drafts by David Callaham and the Nee brothers. While plot details are currently under wraps, a previous synopsis reveals that “Masters of the Universe” follows Prince Adam, also known as He-Man, who crashes to Earth as a child. As an adult, he returns to his home planet to defend it from the villainous Skeletor. To defeat Skeletor, He-Man must uncover the mysteries of his past and embrace his destiny as the “most powerful man in the universe.”
The film will be produced by Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch of Escape Artists, along with Robbie Brenner of Mattel Films. This adaptation is one of 15 live-action projects in development at Mattel Films, which includes titles like “Barney,” “Bob the Builder,” “Uno,” and “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots.” Mattel’s previous film venture, “Barbie,” was a massive success, grossing over a billion dollars.
Galitzine’s Growing Filmography
Nicholas Galitzine’s casting as He-Man continues his collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios. He recently starred opposite Anne Hathaway in “The Idea of You” and featured in the studio’s adaptation of “Red, White & Royal Blue,” with a sequel on the way. His other notable works include Amazon’s “Cinderella” with Camila Cabello and Netflix’s “Purple Hearts.”
“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,” said Julie Rapaport, head of film production and development at Amazon MGM Studios. “This reintroduction of the character and his universe will be an epic film that will delight audiences from here to Eternia.”
Wrapping Up
The long-awaited “Masters of the Universe” film is finally taking shape with Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man. Under the direction of Travis Knight, this adaptation promises to deliver an epic adventure that fans of the franchise will eagerly anticipate.
