Director Travis Knight, a longtime He-Man fan, returns the ’80s toy world to life in Masters of the Universe, starring Nicholas Galitzine as Adam seeking the Sword of Power. The film hits theaters June 5, blending nostalgia with a kid’s-eye perspective and an
When “Masters of the Universe” director Travis Knight saw Fisto, Ram Man, Trap-Jaw — and He-Man — walking around like real people in full costume, he wasn’t talking about scale. He was talking about feeling.
“I played with these little plastic action figures. and to see these giant. real-life humans wearing these amazing costumes. it was actually quite moving for me. ” Knight says. The “unapologetically nostalgic” film is built from the early ‘80s toys. cartoons and action figures that launched the franchise. and it lands in theaters June 5.
Nicholas Galitzine. known for “Red. White & Royal Blue” and “Purple Hearts. ” plays He-Man in the fantasy adventure as Adam Glenn. The story begins with Adam being sent away from his homeland of Eternia at age 10. along with the magical Sword of Power. to keep him safe from the evil forces of Skeletor (Jared Leto). Adam loses the weapon during his journey to Earth. and as an adult he searches for the sword so he can get home.
That quest brings him back into the orbit of old friends — Man-at-Arms (Idris Elba) and Teela (Camila Mendes) — while pushing Adam toward a central test: becoming the best man, and He-Man, he can be.
Knight says the world still pulls him in because it was never afraid of weird pairings. “They had so many different combinations that should not go together,” he says. “Barbarians in furry knickers with battle axes and swords. Robots with laser guns. Spaceships and catapults. Dudes with neon DayGlo leggings, and a guy with a skull for a face.”.
“He-Man was just a mash-up of all these crazy things that I loved.”
The film leans hard into that same blend. It’s packed with old-school He-Man Easter eggs, but it also carries a “Flash Gordon” influence and ‘80s rock guitar from Brian May of Queen. Even the way the mythology is delivered is designed to feel like discovery rather than a lecture.
Knight ties that approach directly to Adam. In the film. names for heroes like Mekaneck. Fisto and Ram Man — along with villains such as Beast Man and Trap Jaw — come from the Reagan-era toy line. But in the movie. they stick because they’re what 10-year-old Adam dubbed them as he drew pictures of them. remembering his time on Eternia.
“Eternia is. on some level. sort of a representation of the things that we love from our childhood. and it’s viewed through a child’s eyes. and he still kind of sees it that way. ” Knight says. “It was a really fun and interesting way for us to not only evoke the nostalgia that people who grew up with this stuff remember. but also a way in for new audiences who don’t know anything about the lore of the characters. who’ve never played with a He-Man doll or who’ve only seen a meme online.”.
For longtime fans, there’s built-in payoff. Grown-ups who remember Evil-Lyn and Moss Man will recognize the tone when Galitzine calls out, “By the power of Grayskull … I have the power!” and transforms into He-Man. But Knight’s goal isn’t to gatekeep the story behind fandom.
“My hope is that whether you’re a fan or not,” he says, “you’re still going to have a good time.”
Masters of the Universe He-Man Travis Knight Nicholas Galitzine Jared Leto Idris Elba Camila Mendes Skeletor Sword of Power June 5 release