Every New Masters of the Universe Costume Compared to the 1987 Box Office Flop

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The classic franchise Masters of the Universe is coming back to theaters later this year – it hasn’t been on the big screen since the original 1987 movie, which wasn’t a commercial success. Early reactions to the new film have been positive, particularly praising the costumes. They’re inspired by the original cartoon, but with updated designs. We’ve put together a comparison of the costumes from both films to highlight the differences.

7. The Sorceress

In the 1987 movie, Christina Pickles played the Sorceress, and her costume was much more elaborate than the original. It was almost entirely white and silver. The headdress was also different, completely covered in crystals, a significant change from the first costume which was white, blue, and orange and included a cape shaped like wings.

Morena Baccarin will play The Sorceress in the 2026 Masters of the Universe film. So far, we’ve only seen brief, distant shots of her costume in the trailer, making it hard to see the details. However, it’s clear the costume features a lot of white, and we can spot the return of her winged cape. Blue and orange colors are also incorporated into the design.

6. Beast Man

I’m really excited that Beast Man will be in both movies! But it sounds like he’ll look very different each time. In the original 1987 film, they used a lot of practical effects – makeup and prosthetics – to create his look with the actor Tony Carroll. He’s got this wild, almost animalistic hair and really intimidating teeth. And while he still wears armor, it’s a lot more earthy – they swapped out the bright orange and red for greens and browns, which is a cool change!

We don’t yet know who’s playing Beast Man in the 2026 movie, but early looks suggest a significant change from the previous live-action version. Thanks to improved CGI, this Beast Man appears more animalistic, with only hints of human features. He’s also much larger and wears heavily spiked armor on his shoulders and wrists. Details from the action figure reveal a color scheme with more orange and red fur, aiming for a look closer to the original cartoon.

5. Teela

Now, let’s talk about Teela, portrayed by Chelsea Field in the 1987 movie. The film significantly altered Teela’s appearance compared to the cartoon. Instead of her original gold and white costume, they went with a grey and silver color scheme. The changes extended to her accessories as well; her bright orange tiara was replaced with a simpler, silver headband, and her collar became a large, full circle instead of the high, open-fronted armor piece seen in the cartoon.

Camila Mendes will star as Teela in the upcoming movie, and her costume has been significantly redesigned. This new version returns to the classic white and gold color scheme. The suit also features the original open collar, but now includes full white pants with brown detailing. It’s a modern take on the original design and a noticeable improvement over the previous grey and silver version.

4. Evil-Lyn

Meg Foster portrayed the formidable sorceress Evil-Lyn in the first film, and her costume was boldly orange. The armor and jewelry were very eye-catching. While her movie headdress and crown differed from the animated series, they still captured the essence of the character. The costume had a busy look, with many details competing for attention.

Alison Brie will portray Evil-Lyn in the upcoming movie, and her costume, while updated for a more modern look, still feels faithful to the character’s original design. The armor draws inspiration from the classic look but is sleeker and more fashionable. Though it initially appears black, closer inspection reveals hints of blue and purple, which promises a stunning visual effect on screen.

3. Man-At-Arms

In the original movie, Jon Cypher played the character Man-At-Arms. While his costume shares some design elements with the cartoon version, the colors are very different. Like Teela’s outfit, Man-At-Arms wears a grey and silver suit, with the armor being mostly silver and the undersuit more grey. The helmet also includes some orange in the visor. The armor looks a bit small and doesn’t seem very protective, making it a significant departure from how Man-At-Arms appeared in the original cartoon.

Idris Elba will be playing the role in the new movie, and fans will be happy to see the character’s suit closely resembles the bright colors from the original cartoon. The suit is a striking green, with orange accents still visible even with the metallic armor. The helmet is also much more faithful to the original design. This version of Man-At-Arms looks ready for a fight, and we’re excited to see him in action!

2. Skeletor

Frank Langella delivered a fantastic performance as Skeletor in the original movie. While the costume included impressive armor and a striking white skull, it didn’t quite capture the villain’s menacing presence. The skull itself wasn’t particularly frightening, and the added robes and armor, though detailed, didn’t ultimately enhance Skeletor’s overall look.

Jared Leto will play Skeletor in the 2026 movie. While we haven’t heard his voice yet, the costume is a perfect match for the classic character. From the blue skin and frightening skull to his iconic staff, everything looks like it came straight from the original series. Even with some minor changes to the collar and arm coverings, the overall design feels very true to the source material.

1. He-Man

Dolph Lundgren, known for his imposing physique, played He-Man in the 1987 film and closely resembled the character’s appearance from the animated series. The movie costume stayed true to the cartoon’s basic design, but added purple shorts and cape, along with gold accents on the shoulder, chest, and belt, all set against black straps.

The new He-Man movie stars Nicholas Galitzine, and his costume looks much more like the classic cartoon version. Instead of gold armor, he wears silver bracers, a silver and red chest piece, and a silver and gold belt. It’s a truly iconic He-Man look, and fans are eager to see him protect Eternia when the film comes out later this year.

Masters of the Universe is set to hit theaters on June 5th, 2026.

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2026-03-03 23:13