Netflix
Amazon MGM Studios is planning a live-action Masters of the Universe film based on Mattel’s popular ’80s toys, Deadline can confirm. While the project was still in very early discussions, it made its way to the Netflix streamer, where it fell through over the summer.
Adam and Aaron Nee (“The Lost City”), the writers and directors who worked on it for Netflix, are expected to continue the project. Then there’s Kyle Allen, who was slated to play the lead role of Prince Adam aka He-Man. One of the producers is Todd Black.
“Masters of the Universe” centers on the orphan Adam, who learns that he is a prince destined to save a distant land from the threat of the evil wizard Skeletor. The IP was most recently identified for three animated series – She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, Masters of the Universe: Revelation and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe – both for Netflix. Kevin Smith served as showrunner for the middle series, which included Mark Hamill, Lena Headey, Chris Wood and Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Before it was announced in July that Netflix had abandoned its live-action Masters project due to budget constraints, there were further attempts at Sony and Warner Bros. to develop the property into a film. While The Cannon Group managed to produce a live-action film starring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man, which was released in 1987, this film was a disappointment, grossing just over $17.3 million.