Travis Knight’sMasters of the Universeis shaping up to be one of the eagerly awaited films, hailing from Mattel’s beloved superhero franchise of the same name. As the film’s production moves forward, its stacked ensemble continues to grow, with three more key roles filled by well-known actors. Originally debuted as a popular toy line andanimated series in the 1980s, the franchise has since expanded into comics, films, and video games.
PerThe Hollywood Reporter, Amazon MGM Studios, which is co-producing the film with Mattel Films, has unveiledthree new cast members: Sasheer Zamata as Suzie, Jon Xue Zhang as Ram-Man, and Christian Vunipola as Hussein. The announcement comes just a week after James Purefoy and Charlotte Riley were cast as He-Man’s parents, King Randor and Queen Marlena.
The film has been in pre-production since November 2023, so the majority of the main ensemble has been revealed over time, beginning withNicholas Galitzine as He-Man. Meanwhile, previously confirmed cast members include Jared Leto (Skeletor), Camila Mendes (Teela), Idris Elba (Man-at-Arms), Alison Brie (Evil-Lyn), Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson (Malcolm / Fisto), Hafthor Bjornsson (Goat Man), Sam C. Wilson (Trap Jaw), and Kojo Attah (Tri-Klops).
Among these, Jared Leto and Alison Brie in particular are playing rather interesting roles as the film’s primary antagonists. While He-Man has always been the central hero, Skeletor and Evil-Lyn have been downright menacing, often manipulating noble hearts to do their bidding. So, it will be interesting to see how Leto and Brie bring these iconic villains to life.
Although the plot details are currently under wraps, longtime fans are well aware of the core premise. At its heart,Masters of the Universefollows Prince Adam, also known as He-Man, who discovers a hidden legacy and accepts the responsibility of protecting the mystical kingdom of Eternia from the clutches of the wicked Skeletor. On the other hand,the live-action reboot is expected to differ significantly from the animated serieswhile retaining its nostalgic charm, asGalitzine teased in January.
Can ‘Masters of the Universe’ Break the Live-Action Curse?
Live-action adaptations of fantasy stories haven’t always had the best track record, especially if they’re based on animated series. We’ve seen attempts at various popular franchises,includingPokémon,Dragon Ball, andPower Rangers, all of which have struggled to win over audiences. Even theMasters of the Universefranchise yielded a live-action movie released in the 1980s, but it didn’t fare well. Considering these prior attempts, skepticism over the upcoming reboot is quite understandable.
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That said, times have changed. With movies becoming more and more reliant on CGI, even the most ambitious fantasy stories can be convincingly adapted for live action. While fans of the long-running franchise may be wary of the forthcoming film,the collaborative vision of director Travis Knight and screenwriter Chris Butler may prove more fruitful than we anticipated, especially considering Knight’s track record. The director is the CEO of Laika and previously helmed the studio’s animated epicKubo and the Two Stringsbefore making his live-action debut with the critically acclaimedTransformersspinoff,Bumblebee.
Masters of the Universe
