Nicole Sael
Netflix takes its love for Masters of the Universe to the next level. The streaming company is joining forces with Mattel Films to produce a live-action Masters of the Universe film, hopefully giving the movie a chance to redeem itself after its 1987 flop.
Production is expected to kick off over summer this year, under the Nee Brothers, Aaron and Adam Nee (also working on the upcoming film The Lost City). The duo is also writing the movie’s screenplay alongside David Callaham. From Mattel Film’s end, Brenner and Kevin McKeon will show run the project as DeVon Franklin, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch and Todd Black producing.
Not much has been revealed about the movie’s plot except that Kyle Allen will play Prince Adam/He-Man. He-Man uses his abilities to protect Eternia from Skeletor, who aims to overrule the fortress of Castle Grayskull from where He-Man acquires his supernatural abilities, to rule Eternia and the universe at large.
27-year-old Allen broke out in the 2017 Hulu Original series The Path with Breaking Bad’s veteran Aaron Paul in the lead. He also starred in The Beer Greatest Run Ever, American Horror Story, One Night, Strangers, All My Life, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things and the 2021 West Side Story remake film.
Masters of the Universe was formerly Sony Pictures’ project, but Netflix acquired its production rights months into development. However, Sony will retain the film’s release rights in China.
Masters of the Universe is a legend production whose empowerment message of becoming the best version of oneself has impacted the imagination of a whole generation of ‘80s children. The animated series, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was released in 1983, making it one of the pioneer children TV shows.
