Masters of the Universe Unveils Epic Battle Cat, Stunning Eternia, and Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms in Thrilling First Trailer
As crises mount and uncertainty grows, calls intensify for the return of a hero who can inspire hope once more.
Alright, so the first trailer for Masters of the Universe just dropped, and honestly, it’s not exactly what I expected. This thing is rolling in with a tongue-in-cheek, self-aware vibe that gives off big Barbie energy (which isn’t all that shocking, since Mattel has its paws on both of these properties). If you were bracing for grimdark nostalgia, maybe hold that thought.
Retro Nostalgia... But Make It Meta
The trailer kicks off with an old-school TV set and a voiceover that feels like it should be selling you Wheaties. The narration rolls through a flashback to 'simpler times' with lines like, 'Not long ago, when times were simpler... This was a healthy breakfast.'—cue the obligatory rainbow-colored cereal shot. Then, 'This was a powerful workout.' Guess what? Jazzercise on the TV. Finally, 'And this was a hero.' We finally get the payoff: a quick hit of the classic cartoon He-Man.
After that, the narrator pivots into, 'Perhaps now more than ever, we need that kind of hero again.' which is exactly the kind of quasi-ironic setup that tells you: don't expect this to play 100% straight.
By the way, Nicholas Galitzine's Adam (that’s He-Man to you and me) turns up mid-trailer, looking very much the confused '80s dude, plunked down in what can only be described as an aggressively neon-lit arcade. If you’re sensing Mattel’s new formula for rebooting toybox icons—wink at the audience, have some fun with the premise—you’re getting it.
Rapid-Fire Fan Service—And a Stacked Cast
This sneak peek is all of 12 seconds, but it’s jammed with shots that will make old-school MOTU fans squint at their screens:
- Eternia (the home planet—yes, we get a decent look)
- Battle Cat doing his thing
- Camila Mendes as Teela
- Kristen Wiig as Roboto (this is one to watch—Wiig voicing a robot warrior? Sure, why not.)
- Idris Elba as Duncan, a.k.a. Man-At-Arms
Still missing in action as far as footage goes: Jared Leto, who’s set to chew scenery as Skeletor, and Alison Brie, who’s playing Evil-Lyn, Skeletor's right-hand and almost certainly bringing serious villainous flair.
The whole thing is directed by Travis Knight (who did Bumblebee, so he knows a thing or two about rebooting retro toys for modern movies). The script is a team effort—Chris Butler, Aaron Nee, Adam Nee, and Dave Callaham are all credited here, so you know plenty of cooks have been in this kitchen.
What's Next?
If you walked away from this first trailer with more questions than answers, well, you’re not alone. But hang tight—a longer trailer is apparently landing tomorrow (January 22), which should give us a better idea if this is full-on meta-comedy or just playing dress-up with nostalgia.
Either way, Masters of the Universe is hitting theaters June 5. If you ever wanted He-Man with a side of knowing winks and maybe a dash of cosmic snark, you’ll want to keep an eye on this one.