He-Man gets an origin story in Masters of the Universe trailer

"Skeletor took my family and he destroyed our world."

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[Boskone]

You take that Back. Hopper and Hoskins have nothing on Frank Langella. Who didn't just scenery chew he absolutely ate that whole damn movie.

"I am a GOD!" still rings in my head to this day. He knew the role was trash and showed up to have as much fun as a future award winning actor could have with that kind of dreck, and he nailed.

I read an article late last year, discussing shitty roles actors had taken and had fun with.

I think it's the acting equivalent of dropping a save in Fallout or Elder Scrolls, then murdering everyone in town.

(Plus one actor who responded to the question with something like "The movie was terrible, but the rug it paid for is excellent.")

 

[Fluppeteer]

Honestly, I just want She-Ra and the Princesses of Power to go back on streaming so that I can tell everyone I was trying to persuade to watch it that they now can.

(Seriously. Child abuse, PTSD, existential doubt, psychological trauma, deep relationship issues, more homosexual representation than Heated Rivalry, passing the Bechdel Test so hard that the male characters are clearly the minority, and obviously healthy female empowerment, coming of age, broad character growth, and parental trauma stories. You know, for kids. Also, it's funny. On the other hand, Masters of the Universe: Revelation/Revolution was... okay.)

 

[ceastman]

Honestly, I just want She-Ra and the Princesses of Power to go back on streaming so that I can tell everyone I was trying to persuade to watch it that they now can.

(Seriously. Child abuse, PTSD, existential doubt, psychological trauma, deep relationship issues, more homosexual representation than Heated Rivalry, passing the Bechdel Test so hard that the male characters are clearly the minority, and obviously healthy female empowerment, coming of age, broad character growth, and parental trauma stories. You know, for kids. Also, it's funny. On the other hand, Masters of the Universe: Revelation/Revolution was... okay.)

Agree that She-Ra was excellent, for all the reasons mentioned. It's a real shame it's unavailable now.

Personally I really liked Revelations - there was some truly interesting stuff in there. Revolutions spent too much time emphasizing the "I've got an upgrade!" "Well, I have a BETTER upgrade!" cycle. (Yeah, I know it was mostly the last couple of episodes. As a series It had a lot of interesting places it could have gone, and just... didn't.

 

[GCamomescro]

Jared Leto. Ew.
That said, Ready or Not, Here I Come was good. You need to watch the first one for it to make real sense though.

 

[idspispopd]

Interesting they are making skeletor the bad guy this time.

At least if my childhood memories serve me correctly, I thought in the cartoons he-man was some aryan jerk who just showed up and claimed skeletor's home for his own. Then episodes were mostly about skeletor trying to get his castle greyskull back, and he-man foiling him.

Like to a child, who else would build a castle with skeletor's face on the front other than skeletor? Wouldn't he-man's real home be themed differently, especially as there is already a character doing the whole skeleton theme thing.

 

[Fred Duck]

What irks me is that nostalgia-as-entertainment has become such a dominant force in mainstream entertainment of all sorts.

Incidentally, I'm currently writing a screenplay in which the main characters yearn for a return to a time before nostalgia. It reminds me of a work I created earlier, which touched on similar themes.

 

[Surtrus]

Incidentally, I'm currently writing a screenplay in which the main characters yearn for a return to a time before nostalgia. It reminds me of a work I created earlier, which touched on similar themes.

God there aren't enough upvotes. Top 10 comments i've ever seen on this site.

 

[jdale]

Definitely steeped in 80's comics/cartoons expectations with kids as the primary audience.

Still, there's so much bad in the trailer. You can almost hear a movie producer suggesting that audience members aren't going to be able to see themselves in the story without starting off with Adam on modern day Earth. (strike one)

Then you have the faux edgy 'everything is grim dark and hero needs to save it' change to make Eternia some uninteresting blank sate with its history neatly pre-erased. It clearly is asking too much of them to go the harder route of world building to sell Eternia as a fantastical, magical (almost Pandora-like) place that the audience should care about. (strike two)

And then you have Adam lifting the power sword to turn into He-Man right in front of Trapjaw and others. So they're scratching out or significantly altering the whole Superman-esque dual identity secret keeping thing that features so prominently in various tellings. (strike three)

At least they didn't try to make He-Man into a dark anti-hero.

What was even the point of the secret identity? Everyone fought Skeletor all the time. It was their full time job. It was bizarre that the prince was so out of the loop, all it did was prevent him from actually working with everyone else. It's like Clark Kent's secret identity was not "reporter" but actually "Vice President of the Justice League." Oh, and also he didn't even bother wearing glasses.

Maybe there is some kind of lore that's supposed to explain it, but that was the takeaway I got watching it as a kid. The underlying narrative was 100% stupid even viewing it as a child.

I saw the preview in the theater and it at least looked like it had a more self-consistent story than the cartoon. Not a particularly compelling one that will lead me to actually watch it, but it was an improvement.

 

[sapphir8]

Eh……it’s alright.

 

[Starlionblue]

This trailer looks like one of the videos people upload to Reddit so they can ask people whether it's AI.

Spot on. This is beyond crap green screen.

I watched a review of Project Hail Mary. One of the points made was how most modern science fiction movies "look like they were shot in a bathtub". The environments don't even feel remotely real. This seems a prime example. Even worse than Fantastic Four: First Steps. In contrast, Project Hail Mary feels real because it used mostly practical effects.

 

[Starlionblue]

I read an article late last year, discussing shitty roles actors had taken and had fun with.

I think it's the acting equivalent of dropping a save in Fallout or Elder Scrolls, then murdering everyone in town.

(Plus one actor who responded to the question with something like "The movie was terrible, but the rug it paid for is excellent.")

It was Michael Caine, about Jaws: The Revenge, and it wasn't a rug. It was a house.

"I have never seen the film, but by all accounts it was terrible. However, I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific".


There's a Hollywood saying, sometimes attributed to Martin Scorsese. "One for them, one for me." Meaning you do one movie to pay the rent, so to speak, then do one for yourself, for the art. It is mostly applied to directors, but works just as well for actors. You do a blockbuster to pay the bills, and this allows you to do a stage engagement or an arthouse film even if the pay isn't very good.

 

[Ragnarredbeard]

Does this open the door to a live action Thundarr the Barbarian?

 

[dobrien75]

He Man is just utter rubbish

That being said, they should got Sax Guy from The Lost Boys to play him

 

[bostonite]

I'm old enough to have memories of being directly in the He-Man target demographic in 1987 and seeing the '87 film in the theater. It was stunningly, crushingly disappointing. This film, whatever faults it has, at least looks determined to not commit the same hilariously stupid set of errors that the '87 one did.

I also was the target demographic and I also saw the '87 film at release, and it was soooo awful. I remember asking myself -- why did they make a movie that is kind of the polar opposite of the Filmation cartoon? This upcoming movie though looks pretty epic from the trailers.

 

[bostonite]

If this does well can we get Mo-Larr: Dentist of the Universe next?

I have this set!

 

[niftykev]

Jared Leto as Skeletor seem an on point casting decision.

Hmm, I don't remember Skeletor allegedly assaulting young women, including minors.

edit: added allegedly since none of the allegations have resulted in any trials, let alone convictions.

 

[Maxer]

Why isn't this Terry Crews and why isn't Terry playing every part?

 

[Fatesrider]

I'm old enough to have memories of being directly in the He-Man target demographic in 1987 and seeing the '87 film in the theater. It was stunningly, crushingly disappointing. This film, whatever faults it has, at least looks determined to not commit the same hilariously stupid set of errors that the '87 one did.

Oh, god... THAT one...

I lost IQ points at the opening credit and felt insulted through the rest of it. I would have just left had I not paid for the ticket.

Yes, it became a cult favorite, but I've never been a fan of masochism.

 

[JohnSpark]

I wanted to name my next child after Leto Atreides but Jared Leto has ruined that for us.

I came here just to say this.

 

[Maton]

The bar is super low here. If they keep to the source material just 51% it will be a smash hit. Millions of middle-aged men will see it as therapy for the PTSD that they still have from the 1987 film.

 

[FSTargetDrone]

Christ on a cracker, that "I have the power" yelp at 1:31 in the trailer is more watered down than the bug juice we used to drink at summer camp. How is it that John Erwin still sounds more punchy and powerful all these decades later? Would it have killed the filmmakers to turn up the voice modulation for Nicholas Galitzine (or whatever the hell they used in the cartoon opening titles) a notch or 3 for this movie?





I think I'll pass on this in the theater and just watch Thor and Thor: Ragnarok again.

 

[FSTargetDrone]

Inexplicably, he is about five years older than Frank Langella was when he played the role in the 1987 movie (and whose mask was reused in Star Trek for the skull-faced holodeck sparring partner in Worf's training program.)

People were older back then.

 

[Fred Duck]

Definitely steeped in 80's comics/cartoons expectations with kids as the primary audience.

Still, there's so much bad in the trailer. You can almost hear a movie producer suggesting that audience members aren't going to be able to see themselves in the story without starting off with Adam on modern day Earth. (strike one)

Then you have the faux edgy 'everything is grim dark and hero needs to save it' change to make Eternia some uninteresting blank sate with its history neatly pre-erased. It clearly is asking too much of them to go the harder route of world building to sell Eternia as a fantastical, magical (almost Pandora-like) place that the audience should care about. (strike two)

And then you have Adam lifting the power sword to turn into He-Man right in front of Trapjaw and others. So they're scratching out or significantly altering the whole Superman-esque dual identity secret keeping thing that features so prominently in various tellings. (strike three)

At least they didn't try to make He-Man into a dark anti-hero.

Now you know how The Transformers fans felt. The director had no respect for the source material and entirely ruined everything forever in ways that no one could possibly like.



I hope you enjoy the subsequent 4-7 films.

 

[comadose]

I'm old enough to have memories of being directly in the He-Man target demographic in 1987 and seeing the '87 film in the theater. It was stunningly, crushingly disappointing. This film, whatever faults it has, at least looks determined to not commit the same hilariously stupid set of errors that the '87 one did.

I wish they wouldn't keep doing origin stories though. Gunn has the right idea, just jump straight in. The origin doesn't matter, we want to see the silly antics of the most powerful man in the universe who is hamstrung by being a goodie two shoes who can't harm a fly. We want to see Skeletor frustrated by a lack of quality henchmen. Where it all comes from is of little interest.

 

[Danathar]

I saw the trailer on the big screen Sunday afternoon, and I think you’re exactly right.

I sure wish somebody would come up with something creative to tell a story about. recycling 1980s toy characters just feels like folks have run out of anything interesting to make movies about

And yet Project Hail Mary is great.

 

[koolraap]

FTFY

Changing people's quotes violates Ars TOC. Don't do it again, thanks.

 

[poenn]

80s kid here. I had most of the MOTU toys back then and went to the cinema in 1987 to watch a very bad movie. BUT, Frank Langella as Skeletor was really great in it. KNEEEEEEEEEEL!

I don’t care if it’s cheesy. The source material was cheesy in hindsight. I just want to enjoy a MOTU movie that’s playing mostly on Eternia. If they deliver that and have the most memorably characters in it I’m all good. It does not need to score an oscar for me.

 

[PhaseShifter]

I'm just hoping the role really lets his artistic ability demonstrate its range. /s

He is a very convincing actor in one specific role--the one where he pretends to be an employable actor.

Unfortunately, only directors get to see that one.

 

[EnPeaSea]

I saw the trailer on the big screen Sunday afternoon, and I think you’re exactly right.

I sure wish somebody would come up with something creative to tell a story about. recycling 1980s toy characters just feels like folks have run out of anything interesting to make movies about

Like one of these?

• The Drama (April 3, 2026): An A24 romantic dramedy directed by Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario) starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as an engaged couple whose relationship faces a crisis just before their wedding.
• Disclosure Day (June 12, 2026): Steven Spielberg returns to the sci-fi/UFO genre with a film written by David Koepp, starring Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, and Colin Firth.
• Digger (October 2, 2026): Alejandro G. Iñárritu (The Revenant) directs a dark comedy starring Tom Cruise, Jesse Plemons, and Riz Ahmed, about the "most powerful man in the world" trying to prove he is humanity's savior.
• I Love Boosters (May 22, 2026): Directed by Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You), this NEON genre-blender follows a group of shoplifters taking on a fast-fashion maven (Demi Moore).
• Flowervale Street (August 14, 2026): A 1980s-set sci-fi film directed by David Robert Mitchell (It Follows), starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor.
• Send Help (Jan 30, 2026): A survival thriller directed by Sam Raimi starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien as a boss and employee stranded on a deserted island.
• The Moment (Jan 30, 2026): A semi-autobiographical metafictional comedy written by and starring Charli XCX, focusing on a pop star preparing for a major tour.
• Werwulf (Dec 25, 2026): Robert Eggers (The Northman) directs a folklore horror film about werewolves in 13th-century England, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Lily-Rose Depp.
• Hoppers (March 6, 2026): A Pixar animated film about a teen who uses technology to transfer her mind into a robotic beaver to infiltrate the animal kingdom. (Much more than a "kid's Avatar" and they lampshade that criticism in the movie!)
• GOAT (Feb 13, 2026): An animated action-comedy from Sony Pictures Animation featuring the voice of Stephen Curry

Then these based on books?

• The Odyssey (July 17, 2026): Directed by Christopher Nolan, this $250 million adaptation of Homer's epic stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, with an ensemble cast including Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, and Zendaya.
• Project Hail Mary (March 20, 2026): Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Spider-Verse), this Amazon MGM film stars Ryan Gosling as a lone astronaut trying to save Earth, based on the Andy Weir novel.
• Wildwood (Oct 23, 2026): A stop-motion film from LAIKA studios, based on the novel by Colin Meloy.

(Edit) And if your gripe is more about the 1980s toys than about rehashes; we have The Bride

 

[Wheaty73]

This trailer looks like one of the videos people upload to Reddit so they can ask people whether it's AI.

Muscled Barbarian, in front of a CRT, on fire.

 

[sword_9mm]

I'm old enough to have memories of being directly in the He-Man target demographic in 1987 and seeing the '87 film in the theater. It was stunningly, crushingly disappointing. This film, whatever faults it has, at least looks determined to not commit the same hilariously stupid set of errors that the '87 one did.

I was 6 or 7 when I saw that one in the theater. I don't remember much about it nor disliking it. Though at that age.

I'm not much a He-Man fan as it's just too campy for me now. I'm sure my 7 year old self would be happy to watch though.

 

[The New and Improved Me]

I was not the target audience of the original series, and was disturbed that it even existed. It seemed a new low. I didn’t have the words “toxic masculinity”, but the shoe fits. So does “crass”, “gross”, and “pathetic”.

I’m sorry if the show is a fond memory for you, and I’m sorry that the creators and tv networks made the decision to inflict it upon you.

I think the show is one of the many threads that lead to Don T becoming president.

I was delighted by it being hijacked by the queer community. I would have thought that would have been the spike that killed any serious revival of the franchise. Parodies of old shows are probably not sustainable, so it would just fade into the past.

But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. An industry that could create the original would of course revive it. How could they not?

 

[GreyAreaUK]

I think the show is one of the many threads that lead to Don T becoming president.

You know, it's okay to simply not like something. You don't have to try and justify it with batshit crazy.

 

[LordDaMan]

"Fabulous secret powers were revealed to me the day I held aloft my magic sword and said 'By the power of Greyskull! I have the power!'" is all the origin story we ever needed for He-Man.

He-Man's fabulous secret power included:

• No one ever noticing he looks exactly like Prince Adam, only in a loincloth and more tan.
• Using his sword to mentally violate Cringer to make him into Battlecat.
• Never once using his sword to fight.
• Super strength

 

[RZetopan]

In fairness, the source material is supremely dumb.

Not to worry though, they have the magnificently required intellects to make it even dumber.

 

[RZetopan]

....to be fair, it's He-Man. The plot is "Skeletor pulls a caper, He-Man defeats him," regardless of the specific nuances or wrinkles.

It is considered exceptionally important to not make any sense, or else they would risk losing the below moronic demographic of their primary audience.

 

[goblinski]

Jared Leto ... ... ... Alison Brie - Ok I'll have to watch this when it releases to str ... ... ... Idris Elba - Oh s#it looks like I'll have to cough for an actual movie theater ticket... ... ...Morena Baccarin... ... ...James Purefoy - And bring friends and buy actual deadly but oh so salty movie theater popcorn... ... ... Kristen Wiig - Ok I'll skip the popcorn and maybe make sure my Kindle's backlighting works... ... ...and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson - Blast, yeah nope, overpriced popcorn it is.

I am so, so, SO watching this, no matter what the story is and whether there is one at all.

 

[RZetopan]

Inexplicably, he is about five years older than Frank Langella was when he played the role in the 1987 movie (and whose mask was reused in Star Trek for the skull-faced holodeck sparring partner in Worf's training program.)

The entertainment industry recycles absolutely everything. Even horrible plots and many props get recycled endlessly.
https://spartanshield.org/48089/art...s-recycle-old-hits-over-crafting-new-stories/
https://www.peshprints.com/opinion/2024/09/04/downfall-of-hollywood-recycling-films-for-revenue/
Comic book plot movies are popular because they can hire moron writers far cheaper than anyone with original creative thoughts, and a comic book provides the plot line. There are a lot of good book storylines, but like so much of their audience, the scriptwriters consider reading too difficult*. I haven't been in a movie theater in decades; even home movies via cable, satellite, and streaming are circling the drain, with more commercials than movie content. And you even get to pay them for the privilege.

*Over half of the US adult population have reading and comprehension levels at a 6th grade level.

 

[h2500]

Not gonna watch it if Skeletor’s voice is not like in Robot Chicken.

 

[h2500]

I saw the trailer on the big screen Sunday afternoon, and I think you’re exactly right.

I sure wish somebody would come up with something creative to tell a story about. recycling 1980s toy characters just feels like folks have run out of anything interesting to make movies about

Confirming all the CEOs’ suspicions that our jobs can just as well be done by a LLM trained on things done in the past.