Draft:Masters of the Universe (2026 film)

Masters of the Universe is an upcoming American superhero film based on Mattel's franchise of the same name, and serving as a reboot to the 1987 film. The film will be directed by Travis Knight, from a script by Chris Butler and stars Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam / He-Man.

The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on June 5, 2026.

Premise
Ten-year-old Prince Adam crash-lands on Earth, separating him from his Power Sword. Two decades later, he takes his sword back and takes on the mantle of He-Man as he battles for his home planet, Eternia, against the evil forces of Skeletor.

Cast

 * Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam / He-Man

Development
A new He-Man film directed by John Woo was reportedly being developed in 2007, but despite many rumors circulating the Internet regarding the film's production status and casting, the project was never officially green-lit. The film rights to He-Man have reportedly since reverted to Mattel.

In September 2009, Sony Pictures Entertainment took over the rights from Warner Bros. Pictures to produce the live-action adaptation after Mattel and producer Joel Silver, who was previously involved with a potential film, couldn't agree on creative direction for the film. Sony and Escape Artists' Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch were to start developing the project from scratch for Sony's Columbia Pictures. In April 2010, Sony hired screenwriters Mike Finch and Alex Litvak to draft a new script. Warner announced that John Stevenson would direct the upcoming feature. In May 2009, it was announced that the scripting duties had been handed to Evan Daugherty, with Stevenson still attached to direct.

In late 2012, it was reported that Jon M. Chu was in talks to direct the film. Original He-Man actor Dolph Lundgren did an interview with IGN about a possible role in the film as King Randor. On October 2012, Richard Wenk was hired to rewrite the script for the film. In March 2013, Chu said that the film was still early is in the experimentation and also it won't be campy but an origin story. In October, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Terry Rossio would scribe, and the film would be set on Eternia; the report stated Chu would not direct the film.

In January 2014, Schmoes Know reported that Joe Cornish, Rian Johnson, Andrés Muschietti, Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders, and Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were named as frontrunners to direct the film. The following month, it was reported that directors Mike Cahill, Jeff Wadlow, Harald Zwart, and Chris McKay were on the short list to direct. In April, they updated that Wadlow would direct the film, while The Hollywood Reporter announced that he's rewriting the script.

In August 2015, it was announced that Christopher Yost had been hired to re-write the film. In January 2016, Deadline reported that McG would direct the film and would also oversee a rewrite of the latest script by Finch and Litvak, as well as DeVon Franklin added as a producer. In June 2016, Kellan Lutz tweeted that he has a meeting with both McG and Mary Viola about the role of He-Man. In April 2017, it was announced that the film would be released on December 18, 2019. At the same time, McG left the film, and David S. Goyer has been hired to rewrite the script. In December 2017, it was reported that Goyer was now set to not only write but direct the film. In February 2018, Variety reported that Goyer had decided to step away as director to focus on other projects, but he would remain on board as an executive producer and screenwriter and the studio was said to be very happy with the script he turned in and was meeting with potential replacements. Carlos Huante, a creature designer, former artist at Industrial Light and Magic and who also worked on the original Filmation cartoon, was hired by Goyer to work on his film, however, in an interview, Huante said that Sony felt that Goyer's script would be too expensive to bring to life as Goyer intended for the movie to be on the epic scale of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and that his ideas for the film would no longer be used.

Pre-production
In April 2018, Variety reported that Aaron and Adam Nee would direct the film. In January 2019, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway were brought in and it was announced that they would rewrite a new draft for the film. In March 2019, it was reported that Noah Centineo was in talks to play He-Man with Centineo confirming a month later that he has been officially cast in the role. In April 2021, it was reported that Centineo vacated the role of He-Man.

In January 2022, it was announced that Netflix had officially acquired the rights from Sony, after producing the animated shows Masters of the Universe: Revelation and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, with Kyle Allen cast as He-Man. It was also revealed that the Nee Brothers and David Callaham had written a new draft of the screenplay. In October 2022, Allen had stated he was working out six hours a day in preparation for the role. In July 2023, Netflix cancelled the film, after spending $30 million in development, citing budget concerns, leading Mattel to search for a new buyer.

In November 2023, it was revealed that Amazon MGM Studios was eyeing to purchase the film rights. In February 2024, it was announced that Travis Knight was in final talks to become the new director of the film, with Chris Butler hired to rewrite the screenplay. In May 2024, it was officially confirmed that Knight would direct the film for Amazon MGM. That same month, Nicholas Galitzine was cast as He-Man, replacing Allen.

Filming
Filming was originally scheduled for mid-July 2019 in Prague, Summer 2022, and April 2023.

Release
Masters of the Universe is scheduled to be released by Amazon MGM Studios in the United States on June 5, 2026. It was originally going to be released theatrically in the United States on March 5, 2021, by Sony Pictures Releasing, until Uncharted briefly took over its release date.