A live-action reboot of Masters of the Universe has been stuck in development hell for the better part of two decades, with stops at Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, and most recently, Netflix. Now, the long-stalled project may finally have some momentum. Via The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix has dropped out of the film, and Amazon MGM Studios has stepped in to team with Mattel Films to give Masters of the Universe a theatrical release in 2026.
Kubo and the Two Strings and Bumblebee director Travis Knight will helm the Masters of the Universe movie from a script by Chris Butler. However, the official synopsis for the film suggests that the story will take several liberties with the source material and the origins of He-Man.
“10-year-old Prince Adam who crashed to Earth in a spaceship and was separated from his magical Power Sword–the only link to his home on Eternia. After tracking it down almost two decades later, Prince Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor. But to defeat such a powerful villain, Prince Adam will first need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man: the most powerful man in the Universe!”
It seems as if the filmmakers haven’t learned one of the biggest lessons from the 1987 Masters of the Universe, which was set largely on Earth and far from a faithful adaptation of either the Mattel toys or the 1983 animated series. He-Man’s mother, Queen Marlena, is canonically from Earth. But He-Man himself has never lived there, and placing part of his story there seems like an unnecessary change.
Although no cast members have yet been revealed, Amazon is set to release Masters of the Universe in theaters on June 5, 2026.
