A New Generation of He-Man
Nicholas Galitzine, the star of the 2026 fantasy film “Masters of the Universe,” didn’t grow up with the classic Mattel He-Man toys or watching the 1983 animated series. However, he found a unique way to connect with the role and the character.
Galitzine, who was born in 1994, admits that he missed out on the initial wave of He-Man. But after learning about the franchise’s impact on generations of fans, especially those from the 1980s, and falling in love with the script, he became increasingly inspired to take on the character.
“I think the love and desperation to play the character kind of grew,” he said. The He-Man franchise originated in the early 1980s as a Mattel action figure, and the 2026 “Masters of the Universe” film is the result of a collaboration between Mattel Studios and Amazon MGM Studios.
In 2025, Mattel merged its film and television divisions to form Mattel Studios, which marks a significant step towards building entertainment around its brands. This move followed the commercial success of the 2023 film “Barbie.”
Robbie Brenner, the president of Mattel Films and also the president and chief content officer of the combined unit, produced “Masters of the Universe.” The film was directed by Travis Knight, known for his work on “Bumblebee.”
The story follows Prince Adam, played by Galitzine, as he returns to his home planet of Eternia to embrace his destiny as He-Man and defend it from the villain Skeletor, portrayed by Jared Leto.
The cast includes Idris Elba as Duncan, a trusted general; Camila Mendes as Teela, Duncan’s adoptive daughter; Alison Brie as the villainous sorceress Evil-Lyn; and Sam C. Wilson as Kronis, a cybernetic weapons expert allied with Skeletor.
Elba expressed his excitement about introducing the franchise he grew up with to a new generation. He noted that co-stars like Mendes, who, like Galitzine, did not experience He-Man in its original era, bring a fresh perspective to the project.
“I think good IP has that opportunity to reimagine good art,” Elba said. He added that revisiting well-known material allows storytellers to connect it with younger audiences.
“Masters of the Universe” arrives in theaters on Friday.
