Summary
After years of false starts and development hell, a live-actionMasters of the Universemovie has finally been greenlit. Nicholas Galitzine has already been cast as Prince Adam or He-Man, and the new movie is expected to launch in 2026.
The vintage cartoonis still a fan-favorite, featuring the characters and settings created by Mattel, and later published by DC Comics featuring the same characters. The originalMasters of the Universecartoon debuted in 1982, with the first attempt at a live-action movie starring Dolph Lundgren coming out five years later. Although the 1987 movie is a famous flop of this particular cinematic era, it had enough charm to become a cult classic for fans.
Updated May 09, 2025 by Kristy Ambrose:Now that the Netflix cartoon He-Man and the Masters Of The Universe has captured the interest of younger fans, the timing seems right for a blockbuster adventure movie. The current news estimates a release date of 2026, and there are three animated shows currently on Netflix for those fans who want something to watch in the meantime.
Masters of the Universe: Revolution is the most recent entry to the He-Man Universe, released earlier this year, and it boasts the voice-acting talents of Mark Hamill and William Shatner, directed by Michael Smith of Clerks and Dogma fame.
8Orko
An Interdimensional Wizard
Orko has been with the franchise from the very beginning. He functions mainly as comic relief, but as the show progressed, it was revealed that there was more to this quirky little floating sorcerer than met the eye. He’s a lot more powerful than he looks, but because of the different laws of magic on his interdimensional homeworld, his spells often backfire or don’t work properly.
Orko is a Trollan, a race of magical beings from another dimension. He has a blue face to match his hands, which are visible occasionally, but he keeps his face covered. In Trollan culture, only friends and family are permitted to see each other’s faces. Orko’s clever ideas and unique items, which he picked up in various places during his travels, often saved the day even if his magic couldn’t.
7Battle Cat
Also Known As Cringer
Several of the characters in the Masters of the Universe franchise lead a double life, acting as normal upstanding members of high society while maintaining a secret identity. No other character embodies this concept as well as Battle Cat, Prince Adam’s adorable animal companion and loyal pet.
As the mild-mannered Cringer, he’s an oversized housecat who jumps if he sees so much as a cucumber, but when he turns into Battle Cat, hispersonality changes completely. He appears in armor, has a fierce roar, and is big enough for He-Man to use as a mount. Battle Cat is one of the few characters on the show that relies on raw physical power as opposed to magic or minions.
6Hordak
Skeletor’s Former Master
Hordak has appeared in random one-shot comics that were intended to advertise relatedHe-Man action figures inthe early 1980s, but modern fans might know him better as Skeletor’s former mentor and the main villain in theShe-Ra: Princess of Powercartoon that debuted in 1985. He appears again as the main villain in the 2002He-Man and the Masters of the Universeanimated series, which ends with him becoming Skeletor as a new twist on the old story.
Hordak appears yet again inShe-Ra and the Princesses of Powerin 2018, and his constant re-incarnations are evidence of the popularity and power of this character. To fit with the contemporary lore, this one is a clone of the original known as “Mordak Prime.”
5Teela Na
The Sorceress Of Castle Grayskull
Not to be confused with her daughter Teela, the Captain of the King’s Guard, Teela Na is the resident Sorceress of Castle Grayskull. Her past is interesting and mysterious, including all kinds of political and family intrigue that lasts for decades. She could easilyhave her own show.
Teela Na’s power is respected and feared throughout Eternia, but her magic has limits. She can only use her sorcery inside Castle Grayskull, which makes her the custodian of He-Man’s power along with the guardian of the castle.
4Skeletor
The Villain Formerly Known As Prince Keldor
The face not only of this franchise but of vintage villains everywhere, Skeletor is one of the most recognizable characters of 20th-century animated fame. His nasal voice and purple leather ensemble are iconic. Throughout the long story of Eternia, he functions as the main antagonist.
Skeletor began his evil career by serving Hordak, the original antagonist of the series. Hordak kidnapped the twins Adam and Adora before escaping, leaving his favorite minion in an awkward situation. For Skeletor, attacking and attempting to conquer Castle Greyskull isn’t just about harnassing Eternia’s power. It’s also a way to get revenge on Hordak and take over the entire universe.
3Shokoti
So Evil She Was Imprisoned In A Pyramid
Shokoti first appeared in the original animated series and littleis known of her origins, except that she was from the dark side of Eternia and locked in a pyramid tomb to curb her lust for power. She was one of the most intimidating villains in the series and despite her imprisonment, she managed to recruit followers to help her escape.
Her introduction was a two-part episode that aired in December of 1983. Shokoti lured the son of the Royal Archaeologist into her pyramid knowing that He-Man and his allies would try and rescue him. She was ultimately defeated by Stanlan, the person she had abducted, and disappeared back into the nether. Her fate remains unknown, but her power makes it likely she survived in some form and could return.
2She-Ra
Princess Adora
Although she appeared in her own comic books in 1984, most viewers know her from the animated showShe-Ra: Princess of Power,which debuted in 1985. The plot and storyline revealed her as Princess Adora, Adam’s long-lost sister, which explains why she has similar powers.
She-Ra’s backstory is explained in the animated movieThe Secret of the Swordfrom 1985. She begins as Force Captain Adora, a servant of the Evil Horde, but changes sides when shediscovers her true identityas Princess Adora. Eventually, she obtains the Sword of Protection, the counterpart of He-Man’s Sword of Power, which she can use to transform.
1He-Man
Prince Adam
He-Man has gone through several incarnations since he appeared in the early 1980s. He was introduced asa fighter and a barbarianbefore he became Prince Adam of Eternia. Like many other modern heroes, he presently lives a double life as a respectable monarch and a shirtless barbarian hero who rides a giant feline.
Using the Sword of Power and the magical energy of Castle Grayskull and its Guardian Teela Na, Prince Adam changes into He-Man, protector of Eternia and the whole universe. Teela Na is one of the few people who knows the secret of his alter ego, and they keep it a secret to protect his friends and relatives, who make up the royal court of Eternia.
