Masters of the Universe is a live-action adaptation of the popular children’s cartoon (and toys line) from the 80s.
But it has nothing to do with the Dolph Lundgren-led 1987 film. The 2026 adaptation features Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam, who reclaims the Sword of Power and returns to the mystical kingdom of Eternia on a mission to defeat the evil Skeletor.
Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings, Bumblebee 2018), who is the son of Phil Knight (Nike’s co- founder), was in a tricky position. The original cartoon was silly and goofy, and many adult fans were calling for a serious, gritty re-imagining of their favourite childhood franchise.
But you also have those who wanted a live-action adaptation to remain true to the source material, and early reviews suggest that Knight has granted their wish. Boasting a 69 per cent critic rating and an 88 per cent audience score, everyone agrees that Masters of the Universe 2026 is a silly, goofy adventure.
But they can’t agree on whether that is good or bad. Some people hated this film. They thought it went too far with the cartoon-ish plot and humour. Others commended the adaptation for faithfully recreating their childhood.
Both sides agree that Jared Leto’s Skeletor is the best part of this film. You can watch Masters of the Universe in cinemas today.
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