The Power of Grayskull lives again as Kyle Allen (West Side Story, All My Life) has been cast as He-Man, and his alter ego Prince Adam, in the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie from Mattel, coming to Netflix. This will be only the second time Mattel’s iconic franchise will take on a live-action adventure. The film is expected to begin production in Summer 2022 and will be directed by The Nee Brothers (The Lost City, Band of Robbers), with a script by the Nees and David Callaham (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings).
“Masters of the Universe is an iconic property that shaped the imaginations of an entire generation of kids with the message of becoming the best version of yourself,” said Robbie Brenner, executive producer of Mattel Films. “With our partners at Netflix, we look forward to showing audiences that anything can happen in Eternia. We are continuing to unlock this global franchise in new ways, and we can’t wait to see Kyle battle it out with Skeletor in this epic live-action saga.”
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe has already had two TV shows the past year with Kevin Smith and Marc Bernardin’s Masters of the Universe: Revelations, as well as the more kid-friendly show developed by Robert David (Max Steel), both for Netflix.
The Masters of the Universe were first introduced 1982, as a series of action figures from Mattel and designed for the most part by toymaker Mark Taylor. In 1983, Taylor and company brought their toys to life in the now 1980s animated staple through Lou Schiemer and Filmation Studios. From there, it spawned the She-Ra, the Princess of Power series–which saw a successful Netflix revival three years ago.
There was a live-action He-Man movie made by Cannon Films in 1987, which was at the tail-end of the franchise with Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Academy-Award nominee Frank Langella as Skeletor. While the film became a box office bomb, it has collected cult status over the decades since. Langella still says Skeletor is one of his favorite roles.
Brenner and Kevin McKeon (VP of Mattel Films) will lead the project for Mattel. Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch (Being the Ricardos, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Fences, The Equalizer, The Upside), and DeVon Franklin will produce.
