One live-action attempt, and many, many decades later, Masters Of The Universe returns to the big screen this summer. Something is happening. This movie keeps creeping up our “Want To See” lists for 2026. We are not sure why… it just feels inherently like it might be a good time.
One of the reasons is the general feeling that the director, CEO of Laika and the man behind Kubo & The Two Strings and Bumblebee, actually gets it.
As summer movie season appears on the horizon, Empire Magazine has started covering the big releases that are coming up, including Masters Of The Universe, which gets a cover edition.
In the article, Travis Knight says the film isn’t afraid to lean into the toy and cartoon origins of the IP, and the silliness in that:
“There’s an inherent silliness to it, which we are acknowledging and embracing. I think it’s a virtue, actually. And it’s woven into the script to help some of these things make sense to a modern audience. Like, why would that character have that stupid name? Well, over the course of the movie we show you why.”
Meanwhile, He-Man himself talked about the effort required to get in shape for the role, but the requirement to also be realistic:
“I think anyone seeing that iconic physique would find it extremely daunting. Even the animations put Arnold Schwarzenegger to shame: the proportions, the minuscule waist, the boulder shoulders.
I had four or five months to get in shape. Truly, it was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done.”
Speaking of wearing the costume, he said:
“You just become kind of abnormally confident in it… wandering around in this costume was empowering.”
You can see some other images from Masters Of The Universe, and read in-depth interviews with the cast and the crew, in the latest edition of Empire when it lands on February 12th.
The path to Eternia begins here. Pick up Empire’s Masters Of The Universe issue on newsstands from Thursday February 12 – or pre-order a copy online here now: https://t.co/qHkAcqNpW1 pic.twitter.com/p9v2VPKPWh
— Empire (@empiremagazine) February 5, 2026
Masters of the Universe opens in cinemas on June 5th.
