What a fascinating title to release in the year 2026. Following their 1981 toy launch, He-Man aired in 1983 once the FCC relaxed toy-based programming bans. Its two-season, 130-episode run cemented it as an ’80s icon alongside Transformers and Jem and the Holograms. Receiving a live action movie in 1987, featuring Dolph Lungren as a character who was more He-Man than Prince Adam. Missing key characters from the popular toys and series, it flopped at the box office initially. But it is now a cult classic. Thanks not only to Lundgren’s beloved monotone voice, but Frank Langella having the time of his life as cheese-face Skeletor.
So what would a version in 2026 look like?
Think of the most obvious wink when you’re trying to keep it understated, and that would be it. Masters Of The Universe is a frustratingly good and beautiful homage to the camp schlock of the 80’s. Its whole point is to never take itself seriously, and it does so with gusto. This movie is for a very specific audience, and I assume the majority of them won’t have the time nor free funds to go see it. Which is a somewhat similar fate to that of Transformers One. A drip of Box Office Poison is also in the well, with them all but missing from the marketing. I think this film is all but doomed to failure. Which would no doubt make Skeletor smile.
But it’s fun. It just has fun.
And it does everything it can to shout at the audience that the production team bloody love He-Man. Not surprising when it has Travis Knight at the helm, Director of Bumblebee and son to Nike co-founder Phil Knight (nepotism…). Don’t write him off though! Thanks to that, he’s the CEO of Studio Laika, who produce incredible stop-motion films like Kubo And The Two Strings (which he also directed) annnddd…flicks through notes…oh yeah, Coraline! So I think he’s earned his keep.
Nicholas Galitzine is indeed the leading man, capturing an Adam torn from his roots. And this identity is the creed of the film: Believing in one’s self even when you sound crazy. Supported by the always awesome Idris Elba and Camila Mendes as father and daughter team, Duncan and Teela, it’s a walk through worlds as Adam tries to find the Power of Greyskull. Not afraid to lean into the hyper colours of the animated hit, everyone shines in the brightest brights, especially the likes of Trapjaw and Skeletor who are wonderfully delivered to the big screen. Oh, and a certain tiger known as Cringer.
Deliriously wonderful 80’s cock rock fills the background, with Brian May of Queen brought into the fray as well. It’s maddening at what this film wants to be, and indeed is.
It’s not going to be for everyone. And that’s okay. Because as long as you’re a fan of He-Man, I think you’ll have a riot of a time with a film that dares to remind you of waking up early in the morning to see some yellow haired dude turn into a buff Adonis. Dick jokes and all.
This post was originally published on The Empire on the 3rd of June, 2026.
It's just dumb, fun and filled with every reference for a He-Man fan. And somehow it has three post-credits endings, which I have not seen a film do in a hot minute!
