Draft:Masters of the Universe (2026 film)

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Masters of the Universe
Directed byTravis Knight
Screenplay byChris Butler
Based onMasters of the Universe
by Mattel
Produced by
StarringKyle Allen
Production
companies
Distributed byAmazon MGM Studios
Release date
  • June 5, 2026 (2026-06-05)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$200 million

Masters of the Universe is an upcoming American superhero film based on Mattel's franchise of the same name, and serving as a reboot to the 1987 film. The film will be directed by Travis Knight, from a script by Chris Butler and stars Kyle Allen as Prince Adam / He-Man.

The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on June 5, 2026.

Premise[edit]

"An orphan named Adam discovers he is a prince destined to be the savior of a faraway land and must quickly learn of his power and the importance of saving his true home from an evil force."[1]

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Development[edit]

A new He-Man film directed by John Woo was reportedly being developed in 2007, but despite many rumors circulating the Internet regarding the film's production status and casting, the project was never officially green-lit. The film rights to He-Man have reportedly since reverted to Mattel.[2]

In September 2009, Sony Pictures Entertainment took over the rights from Warner Bros. Pictures to produce the live-action adaptation after Mattel and producer Joel Silver, who was previously involved with a potential film, couldn't agree on creative direction for the film.[3] Sony and Escape Artists' Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch were to start developing the project from scratch for Sony's Columbia Pictures. In April 2010, Sony hired screenwriters Mike Finch and Alex Litvak to draft a new script.[4] Warner announced that John Stevenson would direct the upcoming feature. On May 2009, it was announced that the scripting duties had been handed to Evan Daugherty, with Stevenson still attached to direct.[5]

In late 2012, it was reported that Jon M. Chu was in talks to direct the film.[6] Original He-Man actor Dolph Lundgren did an interview with IGN about a possible role in the film as King Randor.[7] On October 2012, Richard Wenk was hired to rewrite the script for the film.[8] In March 2013, Chu said that the film is still early is in the experimentation and also it won't be campy but an origin story.[9][10] In October, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Terry Rossio would scribe, andthe film would be set on Eternia; the report stated Chu would not direct the film.[11]

In January 2014, Schmoes Know reported that Joe Cornish, Rian Johnson, Andrés Muschietti, Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders, and Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were named as frontrunners to direct the film.[12] The following month, it was reported that directors Mike Cahill, Jeff Wadlow, Harald Zwart, and Chris McKay were on the short list to direct.[13][14] In April, they updated that Wadlow would direct the film, while The Hollywood Reporter announced that he's rewriting the script.[15][16]

In August 2015, it was announced that Christopher Yost had been hired to re-write the film.[17] In January 2016, Deadline reported that McG would direct the film and would also oversee a rewrite of the latest script by Finch and Litvak, as well as DeVon Franklin added as a producer.[18] In June 2016, Kellan Lutz tweeted that he has a meeting with both McG and Mary Viola about the role of He-Man.[19][20] In April 2017, it was announced that the film would be released on December 18, 2019. At the same time, McG left the film, and David S. Goyer has been hired to rewrite the script.[21] In December 2017, it was reported that Goyer was now set to not only write but direct the film.[22][23] In February 2018, Variety reported that Goyer has decided to step away as director to focus on other projects, but he would remain on board as an executive producer and screenwriter and the studio is said to be very happy with the script he turned in and is currently meeting with potential replacements.[24] Carlos Huante, a creature designer, former artist at Industrial Light and Magic and who also worked on the original Filmation cartoon, was hired by Goyer to work on his film, however, in an interview, Huante said that Sony felt that Goyer's script would be too expensive to bring to life as Goyer intended for the movie to be on the epic scale of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and that his ideas for the film would no longer be used.[25]

Pre-production[edit]

In April 2018, Variety reported that the Aaron and Adam Nee would direct the film.[26][27] In January 2019, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway were brought in and it was announced that they would rewrite a new draft for the film.[28] In March 2019, it was reported that Noah Centineo was in talks to play He-Man[29] with Centineo confirming a month later that he has been officially cast in the role.[30] In April 2021, it was reported that Centineo vacated the role of He-Man.[31]

In January 2022, it was announced that Netflix had officially acquired the rights from Sony, after producing the animated shows Masters of the Universe: Revelation and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, with Kyle Allen cast as He-Man. It was also revealed that the Nee Brothers and David Callaham had written a new draft of the screenplay.[1] In October 2022, Allen had stated he was working out six hours a day in preparation for the role.[32] In July 2023, Netflix cancelled the film, after spending $30 million in development, citing budget concerns, leading Mattel to search for a new buyer.[33]

In November 2023, it was revealed that Amazon MGM Studios was eyeing to purchase the film rights.[34] In February 2024, it was announced that Travis Knight was in final talks to become the new director of the film, with Chris Butler hired to rewrite the screenplay.[35]

Filming[edit]

Filming was originally scheduled for mid-July 2019 in Prague,[36] Summer 2022,[1][32] and April 2023.[37]

Release[edit]

Masters of the Universe is scheduled to be released by Amazon MGM Studios in the United States on June 5, 2026.[38] It was originally going to be released theatrically in the United States on March 5, 2021, by Sony Pictures Releasing,[39] until Uncharted briefly took over its release date.[40]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 28, 2022). "'Masters Of The Universe' Live-Action Mattel Movie Heads To Netflix After Being In Development At Sony; Kyle Allen To Play He-Man". Deadline. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  2. ^ Morris, Clint (November 30, 2006). "Fox2000 no longer has the Power of Grayskull". Moviehole. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  3. ^ "Barbie's a living doll at Universal – Entertainment News, Film News, Media". Variety. September 23, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  4. ^ Drees, Rich (April 12, 2010). "MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE Gets Screenwriters". filmbuffonline.com. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  5. ^ Kit, Borys. "'Grayskull' lands new writer". Hollywoodreporter.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  6. ^ Fleming, Mike (July 30, 2012). "Jon M. Chu In 'Masters Of The Universe' Talks". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  7. ^ Fleming, Mike (August 3, 2012). "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe – Lundgren on He-Man Reboot". IGN. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  8. ^ Sneider, Jeff (October 12, 2012). "Wenk to pen 'Masters of the Universe'". Variety. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  9. ^ "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - Jon M. Chu Production Update - IGN Video". March 27, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  10. ^ "TR Interview: Jon M. Chu Talks G.I. Joe: Retaliation...and Masters of the Universe! - The Robot's Voice". March 28, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  11. ^ "'Lone Ranger' Co-Writer Tapped to Write 'Masters of the Universe' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. October 7, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  12. ^ The Phantom (January 10, 2014). "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Close to Happening; Looking at New Directors!". Schmoes Know. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  13. ^ Kroll, Justin (February 26, 2014). "BTW, Mike Cahill and Jeff Wadlow are on the short list for MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE". Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  14. ^ "He-Man Film 'Masters of the Universe' Director Short-List Includes 'Lego Movie' Editor (Exclusive)". The Wrap. February 26, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  15. ^ "A PHANTOM EXCLUSIVE: Jeff Wadlow Will Direct MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE!". Schmoes Know. April 9, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  16. ^ "Jeff Wadlow to Rewrite 'Masters of the Universe'". The Hollywood Reporter. April 10, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  17. ^ "Christopher Yost to Write 'Masters of the Universe' Film". Comicbookresources.com. August 19, 2015. Archived from the original on March 17, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  18. ^ Fleming, Jr, Mike (January 22, 2016). "McG Orbiting 'Masters Of The Universe' At Sony". Deadline. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  19. ^ Kellan Lutz [@kellanlutz] (June 24, 2016). "Hey @HeManTheMovie and all MOTU fans, Had an amazing meeting with @McGsWonderland and @ItsMaryViola talking MOTU! ITS IN GREAT HANDS! 💪⚔" (Tweet). Retrieved January 26, 2020 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ Burlingame, Russ (June 24, 2016). "Kellan Lutz Met With McG About Masters Of The Universe Movie". ComicBook.com. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  21. ^ Chavez, Danette (April 27, 2017). "Masters Of The Universe gets a release date, but loses its director". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  22. ^ Gonzalez, Umberto (December 1, 2017). "David S. Goyer in Talks to Direct He-Man Film 'Masters of the Universe' for Sony (Exclusive)". The Wrap. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  23. ^ Marc, Christopher (January 21, 2018). "Goyer Teases 'Masters of The Universe' Is In Pre-Production – Teela Confirmed". Omega Underground. Archived from the original on February 9, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  24. ^ Lang, Brent (February 8, 2018). "'Masters of the Universe' Still Needs Director as David S. Goyer Passes (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  25. ^ Lang, Brent (February 26, 2019). "David S. Goyer's 'Masters of the Universe' Would Have Been a 'Lord of the Rings'-Sized Epic". SlashFilm. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  26. ^ Kroll, Justin (April 19, 2018). "'Masters of the Universe': Nee Brothers to Direct He-Man Movie (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  27. ^ Charles Murphy (May 1, 2018). "EXCLUSIVE: He-Man: Masters of the Universe Character Breakdowns Revealed". That Hashtag Show. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  28. ^ Anthony D'Alessandro (January 11, 2019). "'Masters Of The Universe' Movie: Art Marcum & Matt Holloway To Write New Draft For Sony/Mattel Films". Deadline. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  29. ^ Umberto Gonzalez (March 20, 2019). "Noah Centineo in Talks to Play He-Man in Sony and Mattel Films 'Masters of the Universe' (Exclusive)". The Wrap. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  30. ^ Zach Seemayer (April 30, 2019). "Noah Centineo Confirms He's Playing He-Man in 'Masters of the Universe': 'I Am Very Excited'". MSN. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  31. ^ Sneider, Jeff (April 29, 2021). "Exclusive: Noah Centineo Exits 'Masters of the Universe' Movie at Sony". Collider. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  32. ^ a b extratv (October 13, 2022). "Isabela Merced Spills New Madame Web SECRETS (Exclusive)". YouTube. Google LLC. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  33. ^ Donnelly, Matt (July 18, 2023). "'Masters of the Universe' Movie Dead at Netflix After at Least $30 Million in Development; Mattel Shopping for New Buyer (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  34. ^ Donnelly, Matt (November 13, 2023). "'Masters of the Universe' Movie Eyes New Home at Amazon After Netflix Exit (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  35. ^ Kroll, Justin (February 13, 2024). "Director Travis Knight Circling New 'Masters Of The Universe' Movie: The Dish". Deadline. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  36. ^ Anish (February 13, 2019). "Filming Start Date For 'Masters Of The Universe' Movie Has Been Revealed". Geeks On Coffee. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  37. ^ Massoto, Erick (March 22, 2022). "Exclusive: 'Masters of the Universe' Directors Tease a "Colorful, Fun, and Irreverent" Live-Action Movie". Collider. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  38. ^ Galuppo, Mia (May 1, 2024). "Live-Action 'Masters of the Universe' Movie Gets Theatrical Release Date". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  39. ^ Pedersen, Erik (May 16, 2019). "'Masters Of The Universe' Attacking In 2021 Via Sony". The Wrap. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  40. ^ Lincoln, Ross A. (January 24, 2020). "Sony Pushes 'Uncharted' Movie Back 3 Months, Takes 'Masters of the Universe' Off the Schedule". TheWrap. Retrieved January 26, 2020.

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