Masters of the Universe Brings 23 Iconic He-Man Characters to Screen

The new Masters of the Universe movie features 25 characters coming to life on screen, many of them for the very first time. The Masters of the Universe started as a toy line from Mattel in 1982, and it quickly grew into much more than that. Along with the initial action figures came small comic books, then more extensive books and comics. However, the franchise truly became popular in 1983 with the debut of the beloved animated series for children.

As a longtime fan, I’ve seen Masters of the Universe pop up everywhere – comics, cartoons, and especially with She-Ra getting her own spin-offs. Now, Travis Knight’s brought the whole saga to the big screen, and I’m happy to say it’s one of the most accurate adaptations I’ve ever seen. But the big question is: does he do justice to the characters we all know and love? That’s what I’m here to explore.

23. Nicholas Galitzine is Prince Adam / He-Man

Nicholas Galitzine is gaining popularity in Hollywood, earning praise for his roles in films like The Idea of You, Purple Hearts, and Red, White & Royal Blue (where he played a prince who fell in love with the president’s son). Now, he’s taking on a new role as Adam, Prince of Eternia, a character thrust into a faraway land with a destiny to become the universe’s most powerful being. This new take on Masters of the Universe stays true to the original Prince Adam, portraying him as somewhat naive – a stark contrast to his powerful alter ego.

Recent versions of Masters of the Universe often highlight the contrast between Prince Adam and He-Man, portraying Adam as a secret identity (like in Masters of the Universe: Revelations and the Sword of Flaws miniseries). However, Travis Knight’s Masters of the Universe movie starts by abandoning that concept altogether, and then playfully references it later. This version of He-Man is arguably the most accurate depiction we’ve seen in a live-action film.

22. Camila Mendes is Teela

Camila Mendes, famous for her role in Riverdale, is now playing Teela in Masters of the Universe. The show acknowledges Teela’s original backstory from the 1980s comics, where she was a unicorn-riding warrior goddess. While the relationship between Teela and her father, Duncan, is central to the story, the show intentionally doesn’t focus on another important connection: Teela’s parentage. Traditionally, stories have revealed Teela to be the daughter of the sorceress, with Duncan sometimes portrayed as her adoptive father or the sorceress’ partner. These possibilities could be explored in future installments.

21. Idris Elba is Man-At-Arms

Idris Elba plays Duncan, a skilled warrior and advisor to the king. We see his strength and expertise in scenes from the past. However, in the present day, he’s a haunted man, burdened by a past failure. These flashbacks reveal the Duncan fans know from the original Masters of the Universe stories – a celebrated weapons trainer and leader of the royal guard. His frustration with Adam’s choices mirrors the dynamic seen in the classic DC comics, where Duncan was one of the few who knew Adam’s secret identity – a role he also held in the original animated series.

Man-At-Arms is usually shown as a creative inventor and a tech expert. However, the Masters of the Universe series doesn’t emphasize this very much, except for his unusual connection with Roboto. The movie version doesn’t equip him with as many powerful weapons as earlier adaptations, like the ones from Filmation, which included things like freeze rays, laser swords, and a crossbow with a grappling hook.

20. Jared Leto is Skeletor

Jared Leto’s casting as Skeletor in Amazon’s Masters of the Universe was a risky move, but he actually delivers a strong performance. The film doesn’t bother exploring Skeletor’s past or why he does what he does; he readily admits he is a villain. There’s a small hint that he’s a demon, staying true to his original depiction in the Masters of the Universe comics. This version of Skeletor isn’t as overwhelmingly powerful as the classic cartoon, and his goal is straightforward: he wants the Sword of Power, making him a direct opponent to He-Man, rather than seeking the secrets of Castle Grayskull.

19. Alison Brie is Evil-Lyn

Alison Brie is known for her work in shows like Carol & the End of the World, Apples Never Fall, and Krapopolis, but she’s also a seasoned voice actor with credits in both the Star Wars and Marvel universes. Now, she’s taking on the role of Evil-Lyn in Masters of the Universe, a villain remarkably similar in appearance to her original design as Skeletor’s top aide. Interestingly, Evil-Lyn’s character was first developed for the original animated series, not the comic books, where she was portrayed as a competitor to Teela – a role she still plays in the new series. Like in the original show, Evil-Lyn isn’t truly loyal to Skeletor and is primarily motivated by her own desire for power.

18. Kristen Wiig is Roboto

Roboto is a frequently reimagined character in Masters of the Universe, and a recent change brought a surprising twist: a new voice actor giving Roboto a female persona, which creates an amusing dynamic with the character Duncan. This version of Roboto is voiced by Kristen Wiig, known for her roles in Ghostbusters, Wonder Woman 1984, and the Despicable Me movies. She plays Roboto as a powerful battle robot, roughly equivalent to the strength of fifteen soldiers. While the initial design was different, it’s eventually updated to be more in line with the classic look.

The character of Roboto in Masters of the Universe was never consistently defined. Different versions of the story gave him varying origins. While the Filmation cartoon depicted him as an explorer from the planet Robotica, this was closer to the portrayal in the 1983 Masters of the Universe minicomics, where he was an unstoppable robot built by Man-At-Arms.

17. Morena Baccarin is the Sorceress

As a huge fan of Masters of the Universe, I’m really excited about Morena Baccarin (you might know her from Serenity, Deadpool, or Elevation) playing The Sorceress. She’s got all the same powers as the classic version – including transforming into the bird, Zoar – but her costume is a bit different. Interestingly, you see the old Sorceress costume all over Eternian buildings, which makes me think there’s been a history of people taking on that role over time.

16. James Purefoy and Charlotte Riley are King Randor and Queen Marlena

James Purefoy (known for roles in The Veil, The Witcher, and Saint-Pierre) and Charlotte Riley (Dark Heart, The Peripheral, Smoggia Queens) play Adam’s parents. The new series, Masters of the Universe, heightens the conflict between King Randor and Adam, but the central theme – the king’s disapproval and worry about his son’s strength – comes directly from the original animated series. Queen Marlena is portrayed as she has been since 1982: an Earth traveler, usually an astronaut, who arrived on Eternia.

15. Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson is Fisto

Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, an Icelandic actor known for his roles in shows like Vikings: Valhalla and The Witcher, plays a dedicated warrior from Eternia in this adaptation. However, his character is notably bothered by his nickname, Fisto. While the costume is true to the original design, it doesn’t suggest Fisto’s history from the classic cartoon. In that version, Fisto began as one of Skeletor’s followers before switching sides and becoming a hero after being rescued by an ordinary villager.

14. Jon Xue Zhang is Ram Man

Jon Xue Zhang is an actor and producer known for his roles in shows like The Brothers Sun and movies like Eternals and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. In Masters of the Universe, he plays the character Ram Man, a strong hero whose name reflects his straightforward personality. While Ram Man is often depicted as a comical figure in other versions, this adaptation presents a more serious take on the character. Like in the original 1982 comics, he doesn’t immediately trust He-Man.

13. Sam C. Wilson is Trap Jaw

Sam C. Wilson, known for his work in shows like Deep Cover, Dodger, and Small Town, Big Story, is almost completely transformed into Trap Jaw, Skeletor’s menacing assistant. Masters of the Universe impressively recreates the classic Trap Jaw look, including his iconic mechanical arm that changes into various weapons. While the show doesn’t delve into his history, his ongoing conflict with Duncan and powerful weaponry clearly reflect his role as Skeletor’s chief armorer from the original series.

12. Gary Martin is Beast Man

Gary Martin provides the voice for Beast Man, the character who relentlessly pursues Adam on Earth. While this version of Beast Man isn’t given much of a backstory or dialogue, he’s still a terrifying villain who causes a lot of destruction. In the original animated series, Beast Man had the ability to control animals with his mind, but that power isn’t present in the Masters of the Universe movie.

11. Tom Wilton is Cringer

He-Man’s trusty companion is Battle Cat, who was once known as Cringer. In the newer movies, Cringer doesn’t quite live up to that timid name, as traditionally he only finds his courage when the Sword of Power gives him strength. Tom Wilton, who also voiced characters in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Willow, and Still Open All Hours, provides the voice for Cringer in Masters of the Universe.

10. Christiaan Bettridge and Eddison Burch are Dian and Garda

It’s understandable if viewers assume Dian (played by Christiaan Bettridge, known for her role in Deadpool & Wolverine) is a new character. She actually first appeared in the Masters of the Universe newspaper comic strips back in 1986 as a member of the Royal Eternian Guard who wasn’t a fan of Prince Adam. Eddison Burch, who has appeared in Robin and the Hoods, Dreamland, and Significant Other, plays Garda, another guard member, this time based on the version from the Filmation series.

9. Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson is Goat Man

Goat Man is a character from the Masters of the Universe mythos who wasn’t featured in the original animated series. He’s usually depicted as one of Skeletor’s villains. The role is played by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, an Icelandic actor and strongman known for his roles in shows like Game of Thrones, Pharaoh’s War, and the film The Northman.

8. Hung Dante Dong is Karg

Hung Dante Dong, a stunt performer, portrays Karg, a somewhat surprising character in the Masters of the Universe universe. Karg first appeared in the 1987 Masters of the Universe movie as a hired mercenary for Skeletor and has since become a more established part of the overall story.

7. James Wilkinson is Mekaneck

James Wilkinson, famous for his work on Bergerac and West Flies the Raven, is thrilled to be portraying Mekaneck. Like the original character, Mekaneck is an Eternian warrior distinguished by his extendable metal neck. However, Masters of the Universe doesn’t explore Mekaneck’s personality or history much, only showing that other heroes find him irritating.

6. Stephen Adentan is Moss Man

Although Moss Man wasn’t a prominent character in the original animated series, he became a powerful nature god and ally to the heroes by 2008. The recent version of Moss Man, played by Stephen Adentan (known for roles in Gladiator II, Jurassic World: Rebirth, and Cliffhanger), isn’t nearly as strong.

5. Christopher Ragland is Orko

Orko has a small role in Masters of the Universe, playing a fairly standard character type. He’s usually depicted as an alien who travels from the planet Trolla to Eternia and becomes a trusted friend of He-Man, also serving as the court jester for Randor. Christopher Ragland, who has also lent his voice to projects like The Garfield Movie, Minions, and Horizon Zero Dawn, voices Orko in Masters of the Universe.

4. Arun Bassi is Pig Boy

Pig Boy, a character originally from the 1987 film, has generally been a minor character, often seen as one of Skeleton’s helpers. He’s even made appearances in the series Masters of the Universe: Revelation. The character, also known as Mata-Shai in early designs, is played by Arin Bassi, who has also appeared in School’s Out Forever, Doctors, and Criminal Record.

3. James Apps is Spikor

James Apps, known for his roles in Gladiator II and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, plays Spikor, one of Skeletor’s clumsy sidekicks. Like in the original cartoon, Spikor is a bit of a screw-up, and his spiky armor often works against him – He-Man repeatedly turns Spikor’s own weapons against him.

2. Kojo Attah is Tri-Klops

As a big action movie fan, I was really excited to see Kojo Attah – you might recognize him from films like Wrath of Man and The Beekeeper – cast as Tri-Klops! He totally nails the look of the action figure. In this version of Masters of the Universe, they’ve positioned him as Skeletor’s go-to guy for scouting, spying, and even taking out targets. They even showed him blasting lasers from one of his eyes – which, honestly, is classic Tri-Klops! He’s usually portrayed as a skilled bounty hunter and swordsman, and this version doesn’t disappoint in that regard.

1. Lauren Saliu is She-Ra

Lauren Saliu, known for her roles in shows like Joggers, The Last Straw, and The Choice, has been confirmed as the actress playing She-Ra in the post-credits scene of Masters of the Universe. The character’s design is remarkably true to the original animated series. While She-Ra appears, her full story hasn’t been revealed yet within the new Masters of the Universe timeline.

2026-06-04 17:45