After 14 years in and out of “development hell,” Mattel’s Masters of the Universe franchise is headed back into the world of live-action for the first time since the 1987 film starring Dolph Lundgren and Frank Langella.
Following the success of the animated Masters of the Universe: Revelation and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Mattel extended its pact with Netflix to bring the battle between He-Man and Skeletor to audiences in a new way. Kyle Allen (West Side Story, American Horror Story) will lift the iconic Power Sword in the dual role of Prince Adam/He-Man.
When the cameras roll this summer, the Nee Brothers (The Lost City, Band of Robbers) will co-direct from a screenplay written by the Nees and David Callaham (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Wonder Woman 1984).
“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,” says Robbie Brenner, executive producer of Mattel Films. “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.”
Brenner and Mattel Films Vice President Kevin McKeon will lead the project on the Mattel side while Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch (Being the Ricardos, The Equalizer) and DeVon Franklin (Flamin’ Hot) will produce.
Plans for a live-action Masters of the Universe film were previously in development at Sony Pictures, most recently with Noah Centineo set to star.
Netflix’s Masters of the Universe will stay true to the franchise which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The film will introduce a new generation to the story of Adam, a young orphan who discovers that he has a much bigger destiny ahead of him.
On the animated front, the second season of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is set to begin streaming on Netflix beginning March 3.
