Jared Leto has very quickly become the face of several big box office flops in recent years, something that has started to worry Masters of the Universe fans ahead of next year’s big screen return of He-Man, Skeletor and the battle for Eternia. However, following first reactions from a secret screening of what could be next year’s surprise summer blockbuster, more details specifically about Leto’s involvement have seemingly quashed fears that the actor’s reputation could even overpower the mighty Skeletor and ruin the movie.
One source previously claimed that someone who had attended the screening had called it “amazing,” setting up what seems to be a huge cinematic return for a franchise that has been in the doldrums for far too long. Now YouTuber Mr H Reviews has added more details to the mix, adding that the film has fantastic sword choreography, while saying the movie was “very comedic” but still has “plenty of heart.” Even the story of Prince Adam’s reason for being on Earth at the start of the movie is described as “satisfying” after being quite divisive when first revealed earlier in the year.
For fans of the 80s cartoon series, there is also very good news. As has been hinted by several characters included in the film, and teasing shots shared by the cast when the movie wrapped, Masters of the Universe will be pretty faithful to the classic toy line that inspired the original TV outing of the heroes and villains of Eternia. He said:
“Character designs? Very faithful to the toys. Very faithful to the toys, right down to the weapons and the vehicles. It feels like a true cinematic translation of the original designs, from the costumes to the sets.”
What about Jared Leto’s Skeletor? Evil Genius, or Massive Boob?
In the original cartoon, one of Skeletor’s greatest insults was calling his minions “boobs” when they failed to satisfy his evil requests. So is Jared Leto worthy of the same insult? Apparently, and possibly as a big surprise to many, the answer seems to be a resounding “no.”
“[Leto] is great [as Skeletor]. Basically, channelling Tim Curry…almost a cross between Frank-N-Furter from The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Darkness from Legend. His face is CGI, so I will reveal that, [and] apparently, it’s really good.”
It seems that Leto may have finally broken his box office curse, and really does need a win after the catastrophic financial results of movies like Morbius and Tron: Ares. However, the comments about Skeletor’s CGI face suggest that his role in the movie will be mostly a voice and physical performance rather than being the face of He-Man’s arch nemesis like Frank Langella was in Dolph Lundgren’s 1987 movie.
With a final note that “pretty much everyone in the screening liked it,” and that “it won people over,” it is hard for fans not to be hyped ahead of the first trailer release. Masters of the Universe stars Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, and alongside Leto’s Skeletor, Alison Brie, Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, Sam C. Wilson, Kojo Attah, Haftor Bjornsson, Morena Baccarin, Johannes Haukur Johannesson, and Jon Xue Zhang make up the main cast. The movie is set to be released in cinemas on June 5, 2026.
- Release Date
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June 5, 2026
- Director
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Travis Knight
- Writers
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Chris Butler
- Producers
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Jason Blumenthal, Robbie Brenner, Steve Tisch, Todd Black
