While early buzz around the Masters of the Universe movie grows, Jared Leto—who plays Skeletor—has stayed out of the press tour. A rumor points to dissatisfaction, and other coverage circles back to accusations involving sexual impropriety, plus the mixed box-
Press excitement for Masters of the Universe is rising fast—new weekend buzz, first reactions calling it “a colossally epic time” and “a hell of a lot of fun.” But the strangest detail in the middle of all that momentum is who isn’t showing up.
Jared Leto, the actor behind Skeletor, has been nowhere to be seen during the movie’s press run. The cast reunited at the Los Angeles premiere last Monday, yet Leto missed the event. He also didn’t join the press junkets with Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, Morena Baccarin, and Idris Elba. And even with Instagram otherwise active, he hasn’t posted about the film on social media.
The absence has turned into the story on its own. A rumor circulating around the tour suggests there’s a specific reason he’s staying away from promotion: Leto allegedly “wasn’t thrilled” with Masters of the Universe. The same reporting also claims Amazon has been “downplaying” his involvement as the campaign moves forward.
That rumor arrives in a moment when the industry math is already tightening. Box Office Pro has pointed to a $25 to $35 million opening weekend range. It’s a tough look for a movie that is alleged to have cost $175 million to produce.
Even if Leto’s reported disappointment is the headline explanation. there are other shadows hanging around his name—ones that could make a studio cautious. regardless of how any screening went. Back in June of last year. Leto was accused of sexual impropriety. with allegations that included him flirting with teenagers and engaging in “predatory” behavior.
There’s also the question of whether his recent track record is influencing how the tour is handled. The last movie Leto starred in—Tron: Ares—opened with a $33 million debut, then stalled at the box office. It went on to earn $142 million worldwide against a $220 million production budget. Many people believe his starring role was a factor. though one insider suggested the Tron film would have flopped with or without him.
When Masters of the Universe arrived. there was at least one built-in difference: in this project. Leto plays a character who looks like a skeleton—Skeletor—rather than a fully recognizable human version of the actor. That matters. especially in a promotional cycle where the face attached to a project can shape how audiences decide whether to show up.
For everyone trying to read the room, though, the practical timeline is simple. Masters of the Universe hits theaters on June 5. Until then. the gap left by Leto at the press events—paired with the online silence and the rumor about how he feels about the film—keeps the campaign’s biggest question from fading: is this absence a personal reaction. or a marketing calculation shaped by everything surrounding his past?.
Masters of the Universe Jared Leto Skeletor press tour Amazon MGM Studios rumors opening weekend box office Tron: Ares sexual impropriety allegations