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By the power of Grayskull, Masters of the Universe is finally heading to the big screen. Production has officially begun on the live-action adaptation of the iconic Mattel franchise, with Travis Knight (Bumblebee) directing and Nicholas Galitzine leading the charge as He-Man.
Excitement around the project is building, and actor Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, who will play Malcolm/Fisto, recently shared a production update with Deadline while attending the world premiere of Captain America: Brave New World, where he makes his MCU debut as Copperhead. “We started prepping in November last year, filming starts I think in about a week or so…couple of weeks,” he said. “Up until now it’s been a lot of weight lifting and rehearsing, but we’re about to get into it and we’ve got a really fun script that everyone in the cast loves. We can’t wait to get on set and perform it. That will be great.”
Jóhannesson joins a growing ensemble cast that continues to draw attention. Morena Baccarin recently signed on to play The Sorceress, joining Camila Mendes as Teela, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Jared Leto as the villainous Skeletor, and Idris Elba as Duncan/Man-at-Arms. The cast also includes Sam C. Wilson as Trap Jaw, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson as Goat Man, and Kojo Attah as Tri-Klops. The screenplay, written by Chris Butler, builds on an initial draft by David Callaham (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and Aaron and Adam Nee (The Lost City).
While plot details remain under wraps, fans are eager to see how the film will reinterpret the classic Masters of the Universe mythology. In the beloved 1980s toy line and animated series, Castle Grayskull stands as a powerful fortress whose secrets could grant ultimate power to anyone who unlocks them. Villains such as Skeletor, Hordak, and the Snake Men repeatedly attempt to conquer it, knowing that controlling Castle Grayskull would grant dominion over Eternia. This new film, however, marks the first major theatrical adaptation since the 1987 live-action version starring Dolph Lundgren.
Following the massive success of Barbie, another Mattel property, expectations for Masters of the Universe are sky-high. As cameras roll and fans eagerly await their return to Eternia, one thing is certain: the battle for Castle Grayskull is only just beginning.
Masters of the Universe opens in cinemas on 5 June 2026.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Sylus from Love and Deepspace.
Kevin Low
