New Masters Of The Universe Movie Plan Is A Major Risk After $17.3 Million Flop

The plan to release the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie in the theaters is a huge risk after a $17.3 million flop. The live-action adaptation of Masters of the Universe is coming closer to fruition, as Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel Films have set a release date for its worldwide theatrical premiere on June 5, 2026. The long-awaited Masters of the Universe tapped Bumblebee director Travis Knight, who will work to bring He-Man and his allies back to the big screen for the first time since the 1980s.

It follows a 10-year-old Prince Adam, who finds himself stranded on Earth and without his Power Sword, the sole connection to his homeland of Eternia. While that basic premise doesn’t account for other Masters of the Universe characters, it’s all but guaranteed that key players like Skeletor and Batlle-Cat will wind up getting pulled into the action. Previously, Netflix had canceled the Masters of the Universe movie in July 2023 after spending almost $30 million on development. Now, it is seemingly good news for the film to get a theatrical release. However, given a major $17.3 million flop, the fate of the film in theaters remains uncertain.

Masters Of The Universe Returning To Theaters Is Risky After 1987’s Movie

The Original Was Both A Critical And Commercial Failure

He-Man returning to theaters is risky after the original 1987 live-action Masters of the Universe movie. Starring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man, the original movie was both a critical and commercial failure, earning merely $17.3 million at the box office. This flop raises serious questions about whether there is sufficient interest in Masters of the Universe now. The franchise experienced a hiatus of sorts in 2004, with no new animated shows until the release of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power in 2018, followed by two Netflix He-Man animated series in 2021, and another in 2024.

The success of these recent shows has reinvigorated interest in the franchise and bolstered momentum for the planned reboot. Although the original movie failed to resonate with critics and audiences, the upcoming Masters of the Universe reboot could have a fresh start, especially given Travis Knight’s $467 million success with Bumblebee managing to reignite interest in The Transformers. Now, the timing seems ripe for a hybrid sword-and-sandals sci-fi adaptation, though its success will hinge on getting the script and casting just right. Details regarding casting remain undisclosed, although Noah Centineo (The Fosters) was previously linked to the project.

Masters Of The Universe Could Still Be A Flop Even After Beating The Original’s Box Office

The New Movie Will Be Much More Expensive Than The Original

Even if the new Masters of the Universe movie defeats the original’s $17.3 million box office, it could still be a flop. The forthcoming film will certainly have a much bigger budget than the original’s $22 million, given generally significantly larger budgets in Hollywood and advancements in technology. Mattel will also be more confident after Barbie‘s incredible box office success, especially in light of the long history of the Masters of the Universe franchise. The multinational toy company will surely want to leverage the popularity of its franchises to make more successful films.

Masters of the Universe

Created by

Roger Sweet

Cast

John Erwin , Alan Oppenheimer , Linda Gary , Lou Scheimer , George DiCenzo , Dolph Lundgren , Kyle Allen , Frank Langella , Meg Foster , Billy Barty , Courtney Cox , Robert Duncan McNeill , Jon Cypher , Chelsea Field , James Tolkan , Christina Pickles , Erika Scheimer , Jay Scheimer

Character(s)

He-Man , Skeletor , Prince Adam , Cringer , Battle Cat , Beast Man , Man-At-Arms , Orko , Teela

Source: Variety