Netflix is looking to become the one-stop-shop for all things Masters of the Universe (well, not ALL things… it still doesn’t have the vintage shows) as it will now be the outlet for the long-in-gestation live-action movie based on the best-selling 1980s Mattel toy line and the classic Filmation cartoon. A live-action film has been in development at Sony for YEARS but now it will move over to Netflix, although Sony will still distribute the movie theatrically in China.
Over the last year, Netflix has unleashed a new adult-targeted animated series, Masters of the Universe: Revelation, and a kid-friendly CG program, simply entitled He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Prior to that, the streaming service released an acclaimed (but controversial) updated series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power based on the original spin-off She-Ra: Princess of Power.
Adam and Aaron Nee (The Lost City) who signed on to direct in 2018 are still attached. The script is by Dave Callaham (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Wonder Woman 1984).
No longer attached is Noah Centineo, who was supposed to star as He-Man/Prince Adam, which is ironic as he became a huge heartthrob after starring in several teen-oriented Netflix films including the To All The Boys… series, The Perfect Date, and Sierra Burgess is a Loser. The actor even began an intense training regimen and bulked up noticeably, but he recently quietly dropped out of this project.
The role has now gone to up and comer Kyle Allen, who was recently seen in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story as Balkan, and in the Amazon Prime Video originals The Map of Tiny Perfect Things as Mark and All My Life as Kyle Campbell. He also appeared as Timothy Campbell in American Horror Story: Apocalypse. He will next be seen in Paramount+’s The InBetween with Joey King, and he has three other movies on the way, Rosaline, The Greatest Beer Run Ever, and Space Oddity.
According to Deadline:
In Masters of the Universe, 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.
Fans of the franchise will notice that this deviates from the original storyline in that Adam has classically not been depicted as an orphan. His parents King Randor and Queen Marlena have always been alive in past iterations. Then again, maybe he will discover that they are alive as the story progresses.
Robbie Brenner, the executive producer of Mattel Films, said:
“Masters of the Universe is an iconic property that shaped the imaginations of an entire generation of kids with the message of becoming the best version of yourself. With our partners at Netflix, we look forward to showing audiences that anything can happen in Eternia. We are continuing to unlock this global franchise in new ways, and we can’t wait to see Kyle battle it out with Skeletor in this epic live-action saga.”
Producers Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch added:
“We’ve always been inspired by the fantastical world of Eternia. This movie has been 14 years in the making for us and our partners and we are so excited to tell an entirely new story for Masters of the Universe with the Nee Brothers and Dave Callaham for Mattel and Netflix and share it with a global audience.”
Filming of Masters of the Universe is expected to begin this summer. Check back for updates!
