MGM has released the full theatrical trailer for Masters of the Universe, their forthcoming adaptation of the ’80s animated sensation featuring He-Man and his gang of heroes and villains. This time around, the trailer reveals that the disappearance of Prince Adam — who was sent to Earth by his parents, Superman-style — coincided with the fall of Eternia to Skeletor and Evil-Lynn. Now, finally back on his homeworld, Adam has to take up his sword and lead the revolution.
Masters of the Universe stars Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam/He-Man and Jared Leto as Skeletor, with a cast of familiar faces including Idris Elba, Camila Mendes, and Alison Brie on board as well. While the teaser trailer focused almost exclusively on Adam, this one gives fans more of a look at He-Man, Skeletor (why is Jared Leto in this? He doesn’t even sound recognizable!), and quite a bit of Elba’s Man-At-Arms.
Directed by Travis Knight, Masters of the Universe has been in and out of development hell for years, with too many directors and stars attached in that time to count.
Set in a fantasy world, it blends science fiction elements like spaceships and high tech with classic sword-and-sorcery barbarian imagery, all with a Shazam-style twist in which an everyday person is transformed into a superhero with a bolt of magical lightning. Hailing from Mattel, the movie feels inspired by Barbie, with the real world and the fantasy world of Eternia seemingly playing off and commenting on each other.
Debuting in 1982, the action figures and Filmation animated series were a staple of ’80s pop culture. By the end of that decade, though, He-Man’s star had waned and Masters of the Universe never really got that big again. There have been several attempts to resurrect and revamp the brand, sometimes just in toy form but usually accompanied by some kind of animated adaptation. The 1987 live-action version, which starred Dolph Lundgren and Frank Langella, has a cult following but is widely regarded as a disaster.
He-Man’s cousin, She-Ra, got her own series spinning out of Masters of the Universe, and she too has been in and out of the popular consciousness for years. Both He-Man and She-Ra have had popular animated adaptations at Netflix in recent years.
Masters of the Universe will arrive in theaters on June 5.
