Nicholas Galitzine is set to take on one of the most iconic action heroes of the 1980s, portraying Prince Adam/He-Man in a new live-action adaptation of ‘Masters of the Universe‘.
The film, directed by Travis Knight, is scheduled for a theatrical release on June 5, 2026, and aims to offer a new take on the classic fantasy franchise. For those expecting hyper-masculinity, this project will be a complete reinvention.
What is ‘Masters of the Universe’ About?
Galitzine, known for his roles in romantic films like ‘Red, White & Royal Blue‘ and ‘The Idea of You,’ was cast as the muscular warrior after an earlier version of the project was reworked.
The story follows a young man raised on Earth who later discovers he is actually Prince Adam of Eternia. After being separated from his homeworld for 15 years, he is called back by the Sword of Power to a broken Eternia ruled by Skeletor, played by Jared Leto.
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Alongside allies like Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan, also known as Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), Adam must accept his destiny as He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe, and fight to save his world and restore balance.
Nicholas Galitzine On Modern He-Man’s Masculinity
In an interview with ScreenRant, Galitzine spoke about his approach to the character. “Without spoiling too much, I think there is a modernity to him that is really interesting. It feels like who he is as a person is a handshake between what traditional masculinity and femininity are, and I think it is very exciting to be able to play that in such a huge studio movie,” he said.
He added that beyond the action and large-scale set pieces, the film also focuses on a more human story, giving emotional depth to the adventure.
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The supporting cast includes several well-known actors. Alison Brie plays Evil-Lyn, Morena Baccarin takes on the role of the Sorceress, and Kristen Wiig voices Roboto. James Purefoy and Charlotte Riley appear as King Randor and Queen Marlena. The film also includes Cringer, He-Man’s loyal companion, who transforms alongside him.
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This version moves away from the simple, ultra-muscular image made famous by the original ‘He-Man’ and the ‘Masters of the Universe‘ cartoon and the 1987 live-action film starring Dolph Lundgren.
Galitzine’s take on Prince Adam is said to include more vulnerability and depth, alongside physical strength, offering a more balanced character for modern audiences. Reports suggest the actor went through intense physical training to build muscle for the role, calling it one of the toughest parts of his preparation while also managing other projects.
With a budget of around $200 million, the film will need to earn approximately $500 million to break even. It faces an uphill task at the box office, given its release timing, as it will compete with several other high-profile titles, including ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,’ Disney’s ‘Toy Story 5,’ Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated sci-fi film ‘Disclosure Day,’ and Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey,’ which is scheduled for release in July this year.
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