Phil Roberts 
Masters of the Universe is an absolute blast. Travis Knight has delivered what is arguably the most faithful adaptation of the source material to date.
My first experience with He-Man and the Masters of the Universe came as a wide-eyed five-year-old when the original animated series first aired. From the moment I was introduced to Eternia, I was hooked. Watching He-Man and BattleCat battle Skeletor’s forces was the stuff of dreams, combining thrilling action, boundless imagination, and a cast of colorful, memorable characters. Better still, each adventure was rounded off by a positive life lesson, making it the perfect Saturday-morning escape for a young pop-culture obsessive like me.
In the years that followed, I, like many fans of my generation, eagerly awaited a big-screen adaptation that truly captured the spirit of the franchise. Granted, Gary Goddard’s 1987 film starring Dolph Lundgren was an entertaining diversion, and Lundgren himself made for a convincing He-Man. However, the absence of iconic characters such as BattleCat, Ram-Man, Orko, and many others meant it never fully satisfied my craving for a faithful adaptation.
Fast forward to 2026, and Travis Knight is finally poised to unleash the Power of Grayskull on the big screen. Armed with an impressive cast, the rich mythology of Eternia, and the backing of Amazon MGM Studios, Knight has all the ingredients necessary to deliver the adaptation that fans have been waiting decades to see. But can he deliver the ultimate tribute to my childhood and hit all the right notes to make audiences scream “By the Power of Grayskull” once again? Or is this new interpretation of Masters of the Universe another let-down?
REVIEW
Fear not, He-Man fans, because Travis Knight’s Masters of the Universe is an absolute riot. It’s a nostalgic trip to Eternia wrapped in a campy ’80s fever dream. Although the film doesn’t land on every level, Jared Leto’s superb take on Skeletor makes it a true blast! Daniel Pemberton’s score is initially superb, the color palette is utterly glorious, and the world-building is off the charts. In the end, the film is a true epic in every sense. It’s Flash Gordon meets He-Man, unleashed in an overly long yet extremely faithful adaptation of my childhood series, and that is the highest compliment I can pay.Â
WORLD-BUILDING
Crafting a film of this scale would be a daunting task for many directors, but Travis Knight rises to the challenge and delivers what feels like the ultimate love letter to the classic animated series. With the help of cinematographer Fabian Wagner, Knight rebuilds Eternia from the ground up, presenting the iconic fantasy world in breathtaking detail. Every location bursts with color and life, from the grandeur of King Randor’s Palace to the mystical majesty of Castle Grayskull. It may sound cliché to say that the animated series has come to life, but in this case, the description couldn’t be more fitting.
From the opening scenes, longtime fans are welcomed home by familiar landscapes and beloved characters lovingly recreated with remarkable accuracy. Whether it’s James Purefoy’s noble King Randor, a young Prince Adam, or his faithful companion Cringer, every character makes the leap from animation to live action with impressive success. Among the standouts is Duncan, better known as Man-At-Arms, the kingdom’s trusted general.
Eyebrows were certainly raised when Idris Elba was cast as Duncan, but any doubts are quickly put to rest. Elba slips into the role with remarkable ease, embodying the wisdom, strength, and unwavering loyalty that made Man-At-Arms such a beloved figure in the original series.
FATHERHOOD
His relationship with his young adoptive daughter, Teela, becomes a focal point here that resonates throughout the film. This not only applies to Man-At-Arms, but to Adam and King Randor as well. Duncan’s relationship with Adam is explored in greater detail, with the former’s role as a mentor coming to the fore. It only adds weight to their future relationship and helps establish why they grow so close. It is a theme that will resonate throughout the story as it unfolds. But like all good stories from Eternia, the peace and tranquility of the city is threatened when the forces of Snake Mountain, led by Skeletor (Jared Leto), unleash a ferocious attack on the city.
Once again, a treasure trove of characters from the classic series emerges from the shadows and lays siege to the city. Goat Man, Tri-Klops, Spikor, and Karg lead squads of Skeletor’s minions into battle, none more lethal than my childhood favorite, Trap Jaw, played by Sam C. Wilson. Unlike in the series, Trap Jaw becomes more than just one of Skeletor’s minions; here he has a new edge and has never been more lethal. Within seconds, Trap Jaw establishes himself as a genuine threat, capable of besting anyone in Randor’s army, and it is a joy to watch.
ENTER SKELETOR
But nothing could prepare us for the outrageous, over-the-top arrival of Jared Leto’s Skeletor. Again, eyebrows were raised when Leto was cast as the iconic villain, but any doubters should lay their fears to rest now. Leto’s performance is phenomenal. Bringing Skeletor to life is a thankless task, but Leto makes it look easy. His performance is larger-than-life, bold, brash, and outrageously campy. He plays the villain with such campy bravado that his mannerisms are often hilarious. Producing a villain who is both fun, hilarious, and utterly lethal is an impossible task, but Skeletor breaks the mold and delivers just that. The result is an unrivaled, scene-stealing performance worthy of its place alongside some of the best villains in cinematic history.
Alongside Evil-Lyn, his trusted sorceress, played by Alison Brie, who sadly doesn’t receive the depth of character we hoped for, Skeletor’s forces overwhelm Randor’s army, forcing Morena Baccarin’s Sorceress to transport Adam and the Sword of Power to Earth to keep them out of Skeletor’s clutches. It is here that the story truly begins. Several years later, a now fully grown Adam returns to Eternia to find his home in ruins. With the aid of the resistance, led by the now-grown Teela, played by Camila Mendes, Adam begins to unite the people while searching for the sword’s power. This journey culminates in his transformation into He-Man, the defender of Eternia and the keeper of the secrets of Castle Grayskull.
HE-MAN
To preserve the film’s majesty, I will not delve further into the plot or its characters. You deserve to experience the film in all its glory. But, needless to say, the legendary characters from the series all return with remarkable screen accuracy. Mendes delivers a fiery performance as Teela, which only complements Nicholas Galitzine’s debut as Prince Adam/He-Man. Again, bringing the dual role of Adam/He-Man to life is a daunting task, but Galitzine jumps in and gives it his all. Unfortunately, the line between the two characters is never clearly defined, leaving He-Man saddled with the same quirky, uncertain, and cowardly traits that are meant to distinguish his alter ego.
Many of these traits are played for laughs, cleverly harking back to the franchise’s familiar tropes and iconography. For a time, the approach works. However, fans eager to reconnect with the He-Man they know and love may find themselves disappointed. Traditionally, He-Man is a fearless and compassionate hero whose wisdom is as important as his strength. Unfortunately, Nicholas Galitzine’s interpretation lacks many of the qualities and depth that have long defined the character.
BATTLECAT
The same issue extends to Cringer. In the classic series, the timid green tiger is transformed into the mighty BattleCat when He-Man wields the Sword of Power, creating one of the franchise’s most iconic moments. Here, however, Cringer is largely relegated to the background. Deprived of a proper transformation sequence and afforded little involvement in the action, he is reduced to a fleeting presence whose brief appearance in armor feels more like an afterthought than a celebration of a fan-favorite character.
As a lifelong fan, I find the film’s failure to reunite He-Man and BattleCat as the legendary duo they were always meant to be a significant disappointment. Having waited more than four decades to see them share the screen, I came away feeling shortchanged. Not even Jared Leto’s entertaining turn as Skeletor is enough to compensate for the absence of one of the franchise’s most iconic partnerships, and sadly, that is the biggest detraction for me.
DANIEL PEMBERTON
Turning to the score, Daniel Pemberton once again delivers exceptional work. Collaborating with legendary Queen guitarist Brian May, he has crafted a soundtrack that recalls the gloriously excessive spirit of Flash Gordon, packed with soaring guitar riffs, theatrical flair, and boundless energy. The music frequently elevates the film, injecting scenes with a sense of scale and momentum. However, after a while, it quickly becomes overwhelming. Over time, the overpowering moments become subtler, giving way to a more traditional approach, especially in the finale. But the bombastic soundscape is both its strength and its weakness.
Despite the score’s excesses, the film’s epic scale, vibrant cinematography, and striking visual design remain among its greatest strengths. Every frame bursts with the bold colors and aesthetics that defined the original series, lending the adaptation an authenticity that fans will immediately appreciate. Sadly, not all of the CGI is as crisp as it could be, but these minor niggles do not detract from the splendor the film delivers. Travis Knight has delivered the most screen-accurate and faithful adaptation ever attempted, and the successes more than outweigh its shortcomings.
VERDICT
Overall, Masters of the Universe is an absolute blast. Travis Knight has delivered what is arguably the most faithful adaptation of the source material to date. Parents will adore the reunion with old friends, while kids of all ages will be left with a sense of wonder and magic, hallmarks of great cinema. The vibrant color palette is glorious, the world-building is immensely ambitious, and the cinematography frequently leaves us in awe. Although some of the CGI is lacking, Daniel Pemberton’s rousing score, combined with it, literally transports us to another world.
Beneath its polished exterior, however, lie some notable shortcomings. A lack of meaningful character development and the mishandling of several fan-favorite characters prevent the film from reaching its full potential. There is also a lingering sense that the studio is eager to launch a larger franchise before fully establishing the foundations of this one. However, in the end, despite its failings, Masters of the Universe is the ultimate love letter to the animated series I grew up with.
Welcome back, He-Man!
Masters of the Universe unleashes the Power of Grayskull in cinemas from June 3.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
