‘Masters of the Universe’ Filmmakers Explain How Nicholas Galitzine Earned He-Man

by

Nicholas Galitzine has landed the biggest role of his career – he’ll be playing the legendary hero He-Man in the new Masters of the Universe movie. He-Man is famous for his incredible physique, often displayed with very little armor. Finding an actor who could convincingly portray both the muscular He-Man and his secret identity, Prince Adam, proved to be a challenge during casting.

Producer Jason Blumenthal told Entertainment Weekly that Kyle Gallner was ideal for the role of He-Man because he had the right build and was also someone audiences could connect with. Blumenthal explained that Gallner fully committed to physically transforming for the part, but also possessed a natural charm that allowed him to deliver the film’s humor without forcing it.

Nicholas Galitzine completely dedicated himself to the role, and his physical transformation was genuine – no shortcuts, no supplements, nothing artificial. I spent months observing his process, and it was all hard work. While I knew he was charming and had a great voice, I was surprised by his natural, unforced humor. He’s genuinely funny in the moment, which makes him instantly likable and relatable to audiences.

Although Noah Centineo (from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) and Kyle Allen (West Side Story) were both considered for the role of He-Man at different times, producer Matt Blumenthal has revealed that neither actor was ever officially cast. Blumenthal explained that both Sony and Netflix had a preferred actor at various points in development, but those plans never finalized.

Let’s be honest, a lot of actors have the look, and some can really act. But nobody, and I mean nobody, could have brought that role to life quite like Nick did. He just had something special.

Director Travis Knight admitted he didn’t know much about Nicholas Galitzine’s previous work, but after meeting him, he was instantly impressed. He said he knew right away that Galitzine was the right person for the role, and their first conversation confirmed it – Knight thought Galitzine was ‘perfect.’ Knight was also surprised by how much Galitzine physically transformed after they hadn’t seen each other for a few weeks during pre-production.

He was already working out and getting into shape while we were still preparing for the project. When I saw him again, I was shocked – I hardly recognized him! He’d gained a lot of muscle really quickly. Looking at old photos of when we first met, it’s like it’s a completely different person.

I’ve been keeping an eye on Nicholas Galitzine for a while now – the guy’s really been building a solid career over the last ten years or so. But 2023 was definitely his breakout year! He was hilarious in that over-the-top comedy Bottoms, and then totally charmed everyone in the sweet queer romance Red, White, and Royal Blue. He kept the momentum going in 2024 with The Idea of You alongside Anne Hathaway, and then really showed his range in the historical drama Mary & George. Now, Masters of the Universe is a big step – it’s the first time he’s really carrying a whole movie on his own, and honestly, it feels like a lot of pressure – He-Man’s legacy is definitely on his shoulders!

Read More

2026-04-15 14:51