The Masters of the Universe franchise began all the way back in 1982 as a toy line by Mattel, with a mini comic packaged with each figure. A year later, it was adapted into the iconic animated series, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, which ran for 130 episodes over two seasons until 1985 and has been the most recognised He-Man media ever since, and a standout among all the cartoons of the 80s.

Although it was a product of its time, the fanbase always remained strong, and the original toys are now worth thousands of dollars. It has featured various comic series over the decades, was adapted into an ill-fated live-action movie in 1987, and received two animated series reboots in 2002 and 2024. Now, in 2026, He-Man finally gets the live-action adaptation fans have been waiting for, as Masters of the Universe strikes down in cinemas worldwide. 

After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power of King Grayskull leads Prince Adam Glenn back from his mother’s home planet, Earth, to his father’s, Eternia, where he discovers his home has been destroyed and is now under the rule of the powerful warlord and sorcerer, Skeletor. In order to reclaim his family legacy and save the world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela and Man-At-Arms, and embrace who he is truly meant to be: He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe.

Nicholas Galitzine stars as Adam Glenn, better known as He-Man, the former Prince of Eternia. The early portion of the story focuses on Adam’s life on earth, who often tells people about his real home of Eternia, but of course, no one believes him and thinks he’s crazy, which Nicholas performs to hilarious effect.

Nicholas’ performance has a nice mix of comedy when interacting with other characters and being confused and clumsy, heroism when the action picks up and sincerity for the emotional scenes. He built an impressive physique for the role, truly embodying the hero Adam was destined to be, and the first transformation scene, with him speaking the iconic line, is truly a sight to behold and an event in and of itself.

Camila Mendes portrays Teela, the Captain of the Guards of Eternia and Adam’s childhood friend, while Idris Elba plays her father, Duncan/Man-At-Arms. Teela brings Adam back to Eternia, and later Duncan becomes his mentor. The three have fantastic on-screen chemistry, delivering plenty of comedy, and are just as fun to watch in all the action scenes.

Other familiar heroes include Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Fisto, Kristen Wiig as the voice of Roboto, James Wilkinson as Mekaneck and Jon Xue Zhang as Ram-Man.

Morena Baccarin portrays the Sorceress, and Adam’s parents, King Randor and Queen Marlena Glenn, are played by James Purefoy and Charlotte Riley, respectively. Even with such a large cast of characters, the film manages to give everyone their moments to shine so no one feels left out, while keeping He-Man as the central character.

Jared Leto plays the main villain, Skeletor. Jared has been heavily criticised for his movie roles over the years, but fans can rest assured that his performance as Skeletor does justice to the character. The muscle suit he wears helps make his physical appearance not only accurate to the source material but also more menacing on screen.

A filter was applied to his natural voice to enhance the character’s menacing demeanour. He has the maniacal villain personality we know and love, showing he has a sense of humour too. This is easily Jared Leto’s best performance to date and one we look forward to seeing more of, which is a rare thing to say.

Alison Brie stars as Evil-Lyn, a sorceress who betrayed Eternia to join Skeletor. Her role may be small, but she still has her moments, and it looks like she’s being set up for a bigger role in a future film. Other villains include Gary Martin as the voice of Beast Man, Kojo Attah as Tri-Klops, Sam C. Wilson as Trap Jaw, Hung Dante Dong as Karg and James Apps as Spikor, who, all just like the heroes, get their moments to shine on screen.

Over the decades, the story of He-Man has been told slightly differently across various media, but they all stayed true to the heart of the franchise, and the 2026 film does the same. The original cartoon was campy and corny, but it’s part of its charm, and the movie is able to take elements of that and portray them well on the big screen, providing plenty of references and Easter Eggs for longtime fans. Even the 1987 film starring Dolph Lundgren and certain internet memes are referenced, so fans are in for a good time.

The story has a nice balance of action, comedy and emotional scenes, though there is room for improvement. The comedy is certainly entertaining overall, but at times it feels like it overstays its welcome. A lot of modern movies feature awkward conversations by design, and this film does too.

When Adam is on Earth, trying to converse with people who don’t believe his story, it works perfectly, but that trait continues when he’s back on Eternia, and you just want them to wrap it up and move on. Dialogue between characters who get confused and mistake handshakes, high fives, and fist bumps gets old really quickly.

The emotional scenes often feel rushed and could’ve been extended to leave a lasting impact and allow audiences time to let them sink in. Hopefully, in future films, they can dial back on the awkward moments and let the emotional scenes play out longer. Thankfully, these flaws are only minor annoyances and don’t ruin the film.

There is plenty of action for audiences to enjoy, and it truly shows what He-Man is capable of on screen. The special effects team deserves a lot of praise for their work, as the visuals are absolutely stunning. Seeing heroes and villains using their abilities to duke it out, with nothing held back, creates a spectacle on screen.

The final battle, unfortunately, feels a bit short, especially with all the other battles earlier in the film, but they could be saving an even bigger final battle for another movie. The first epic transformation scene alone makes the film worth watching.

All the costumes, weapons, props, set pieces and more look like enhanced versions of the source material, all looking spectacular on screen. Even if some character designs aren’t 100% accurate, they still have all the important features that make them who they are, and fans will immediately recognise them the moment they appear on screen and admire their live-action depictions. The sights are breathtaking, and Eternia and Castle Grayskull have never looked so good.

Daniel Pemberton composed the film’s music, featuring a mix of rock and orchestral elements. Brian May, the legendary guitarist from the legendary rock band Queen, even contributed to the soundtrack with the main song titled “Eternia” that will get your blood pumping for the battles about to unfold. Adding to the internet memes, a certain song plays early on in the film, and when fans hear it, they’ll for sure know “What’s Going on”.

It’s been a long time coming for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe franchise to get the ideal live-action adaptation. The original 80s cartoon is a product of its time, but later depictions showed its potential, and the 2026 live-action adaptation capitalises on it all.

Even with some nitpicks, the overall film delivers in so many ways with a solid cast, going all out with the action, giving everyone their moments to showcase what they’re capable of, Easter Eggs and references, visual appeal, and so much more. Nicholas Galitzine puts in a solid performance, and even Jared Leto will win everyone’s approval in portraying the main villain, Skeletor. 

What began as a toy line designed to grab children’s attention and urge parents to buy them is now a full-blown action fantasy film 44 years later. A sequel has yet to be confirmed, but the chances are high, and audiences should stick around for the three post-credit scenes that hint at what the future could be.

For longtime fans and even newcomers to the franchise, the 2026 live-action adaptation of Masters of the Universe will have you screaming, “By the power of Grayskull… I have the POWEEERRR!!!” 

Written by: Sammy Hanson