Film Review - Masters of the Universe
Images courtesy of Sony Pictures.
“By the power of Grayskull… I have the power!” was the line that made fantasy and sci-fi geeks of the 80s shriek with joy, thanks to the hugely popular cartoon series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Launching into the world of action figures and comics, Mattel made He-Man a global phenomenon. Now, Prince Adam and the world of Eternia are reborn for a new generation in 2026’s live-action Masters of the Universe.
Eternia is a fantastical planet ruled by King Randor (James Purefoy) and Queen Marlena Glenn (Charlotte Riley), with their young son Adam (Artie Wilkinson-Hunt) the heir to the throne. Adam is trained by Duncan (Idris Elba), the king’s Man-At-Arms, and is struggling to live up to his father’s expectations. When the planet is overthrown by the evil warlock Skeletor (Jared Leto), Adam is separated from his parents and sent to Earth with the Sword of Power. Fifteen years later, Adam (now played by Nicholas Galitzine) is still living on Earth. He tells people tales of Eternia, but nobody believes him. When he is finally reunited with the sword, it sends him back to Eternia, which has been destroyed and is under the tyrannical rule of Skeletor. Joining forces with Duncan and his daughter Teela (Camila Mendes), Adam sets out on a mission to save his kingdom and parents, which requires him to embrace his destiny as He-Man:the most powerful man in the entire universe.
With so many adaptations and reboots based on existing IP being churned out these days like newspapers, expectations can understandably be low whenever another one comes along. Fear not, however, because Masters of the Universe is a genuinely delightful and exciting surprise. Its strength comes from not taking itself too seriously and leaning heavily into the cartoonish aspects of the world and characters. There’s great humour that’s mixed effortlessly into the action, reminiscent of the 2023 film adaptation of Dungeons and Dragons, and Guardians of the Galaxy. Galatzine imbues humanity and goofiness into Prince Adam, who still feels relatable and lovable despite being the most powerful man alive. Jared Leto may have disappointed many as the Joker in Suicide Squad, but he gets his villanous redemption arc here as a highly entertaining and theatrical version of Skeletor. Elba also puts in strong supporting work as Adam’s mentor, who has fallen from grace and is trying to earn back his daughter’s respect. The film isn’t afraid to be vibrant and colourful, which is rare in blockbusters these days (looking at you, The Mandalorian and Grogu), and the visual effects look great too. It helps that director Travis Knight comes from an animation background, also having directed the visually stunning Kubo and the Two Strings.
Masters of the Universe is perfect for old and new audiences alike. There’s enough nostalgia to keep those who grew up with the show happy, but the film’s unabashed wit, heart and visual splendour will charm a whole new generation too.
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Masters of the Universe is screening in cinemas from Thursday the 4th of June.