Masters of the Universe returns to cinema screens, another Mattel franchise, energized by Travis Knight’s direction! This is another Mattel movie after Barbie (2023), but now an action figure line. The original Masters of the Universe toy line was successful when it debuted in 1982. The toyline was created by Roger Sweet who had recently passed away on April 28th. Sweet wrote about creating the franchise in his book, Mastering the Universe: He-Man and the Rise and Fall of a Billion-Dollar Idea (2005). The toys had mini-comics and the first comic was, He-Man and the Power Sword (1982). It was written by Donald F. Glut with art by Alfredo Alcala. A year later was Filmation series, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, that ran until 1985. The spin-off, Princess of Power that featured She-Ra, hit toy shelves in 1984.
The first animated film was He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword (1985). She-Ra: Princess of Power, the cartoon show followed running until 1987. The live-action movie, Masters of the Universe (1987), starred Dolph Lundgren as He-Man. Frank Langella turned in a fantastic performance as Skeletor. Travis Knight has also directed another toy franchise film with Bumblebee (2018). For Laika, Knight also directed Kubo and the Two Strings (2016). The screenplay team, who also are on the story team, includes Chris Butler who also wrote many of the Laika films with Knight including Missing Link (2019). Screenwriters and on the story group, Aaron Nee and Adam Nee, they directed The Lost City (2022) and Adam was one of the co-writers.
Dave Callahan was also part of the screenplay writers and he co-wrote Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023). The other story writers is Alex Litvak, he had written The Three Musketeers (2011), and also Michael Finch, the writer for John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). The film starts with the narration of Adam (Nicholas Galitzine). The rom com, The Idea of You (2024), starred Galitzine as Hayes Campbell. He also appears in this year’s The Sheep Detectives. There is the chorus singing “Eternia” from the score by Daniel Pemberton. The music for Project Hail Mary was also from Pemberton. It goes into the guitar of Brian May that gives the rocking 80’s sound. Adam introduces Eternia, “a world of endless beauty.” We enter Castle Greyskull, a castle with a massive skull and an entrance made from its gaping jaw.
Inside, the Sword of Power is guarded by the Sorceress (Morena Baccarin). Mickey Fox is played by Baccarin in the police drama, Sheriff Country. The part of the Sorceress is basically a cameo. Young Adam (Artie Wilkinson-Hunt) is speaking to his mother, Queen Marlena (Charlotte Riley). Wilkinson-Hunt was in the sci fi comedy, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die (2025). Riley was in the sci fi film, Edge of Tomorrow (2014). Also there is Cringer, the green tiger who also speaks in the voice of Fletcher Gleen as the Cringer cub. This is another cameo part with Tom Wilton taking on the older Cringer. It makes sense since if Cringer was Adam’s constant companion like in the cartoon, he would be an expensive effect. King Randor (James Purefoy) approaches them. Purefoy played Kantos Kan in John Carter (2012). He was also the lead in the swords and sorcery film, Solomon Kane (2009).
King Randor takes his son away for training. Then, we get a close-up of Man-At-Arms' face played by Idris Elba. He reprised the role of Heimdall in Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). Elba was also back voicing Chief Bogo in Zootopia 2 (2025). He gives a speech to his trainees in his toy accurate green and silver armor. The group is older teens much older than 10 year old Adam. Young Dian (Delilah O’Riordan) is also one of the trainees. Adam is paired off with Young Teela (Eire Farell) who is the daughter of Man-At-Arms. They spar with swords, Adam dodges Teela’s strike, but is hit in his shoulder! King Randor appears and says to Man-At-Arms, "He's making a fool of himself." The king is demanding especially with his son being able to use a sword against older opponents. He throws a sword to Adam. King Randor against his son ends with Adam knocked down. He says, "This world is no place for the weak." A kinda bully to his son and the "Only Strongest Will Survive" is more in line with Skeletor.
Man-At-Arms helps Adam up and gives him some advice, "When you fall, this is the chance to stand tall." Later, we find Adam at a balustrade staring into the distance of Eternia. Teela joins him. They see the Sorceress in the right eye socket of Castle Greyskull. Adam and Teela turn to see the invasion of Skeletor's horde! Ram Man (Jon Xue Zhang) slams into the Skel-Knights. Zhang was Stuart in the action movie, The Arbiter (2025). Fisto (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson) swings his giant, metal fist at Skeletor’s soldiers. Jóhannesson was Copperhead in Captain America: Brave New World (2025). The tide turns with the appearance of Skeletor played by Jared Leto. The lead in Tron: Ares (2025) was played by Leto. Also, the sinister Crump in Haunted Mansion (2023). Skeletor is a dark, hooded figure with a skull face that has two red points sunken in the eye sockets. He carries a staff with a ram's head skull, his Havoc Staff. He is able to go over-the-top with his villainy, but is also insecure.
Five out of Five Swords of Power!
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