Masters Of The Universe Is Borrowing The Failed 1987 Movie’s Biggest He-Man Change

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I was really surprised to see the new Masters of the Universe take a page from the original 1987 movie! It’s fascinating that they’re echoing the choice to cast Dolph Lundgren – who went on to become a huge action star thanks to Rocky IV – as He-Man. That first film really brought the world of Eternia to life, and it’s cool to see a nod to it in the new adaptation.

The Dolph Lundgren movie was a complete flop, failing to earn money at the box office and receiving very negative reviews. Today, Masters of the Universe is still considered a bad film, as shown by its low 21% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

You’d think any new attempt at a live-action He-Man movie would try to be completely different from the last one, to avoid being remembered for the wrong reasons. However, the upcoming Masters of the Universe film, planned for 2026, seems willing to take the same risks.

Both Masters Of The Universe Movies Combined Eternia With The Real World

Okay, so I just saw the Masters of the Universe trailer, and it’s a pretty big shift from what I expected! It looks like a lot of the movie is going to take place right here on Earth, which is wild. Apparently, He-Man hasn’t been He-Man for a while – he’s been living as a regular guy, totally unaware of his past. The whole movie seems to be about him figuring out who he is and finding a way back to Eternia. It’s like a ‘fish out of water’ story, but with a guy who used to be the most powerful man in the universe! It’s a cool twist, honestly.

The storyline closely resembles the 1987 movie, which also connected Earth with the world of Eternia. Most He-Man stories are purely fantasy and don’t involve the real world, but this film—like the ’87 version—features He-Man visiting Earth and interacting with everyday people, such as Courtney Cox’s character, Julie Winston.

Some might think rebooting Masters of the Universe is a bad idea, considering the original 1987 movie was heavily criticized. However, there’s a good reason behind this approach. Both films ground the fantastical story in a realistic setting with relatable characters, which helps audiences connect with the narrative.

Also, showing He-Man navigating everyday life in a modern city might make him more appealing to audiences than if he were simply presented as a prince or king.

Despite Its Similarities To The Original, The Remake Has A Much Better Chance Of Succeeding

Like the original, this new version of the story is set in the real world, but it has a lot more possibilities. Today’s special effects technology allows it to bring the colorful and imaginative world of Mattel to life with characters and action scenes that the 1987 movie simply couldn’t achieve.

The trailer for Masters of the Universe suggests the movie will stay true to its source material, with characters like Battlecat, Skeletor, and He-Man closely resembling their original toy versions.

The new Masters of the Universe series might actually improve upon the original story, especially in how it develops He-Man. This version portrays He-Man as Adam, an everyday person who discovers he’s from another world, giving him a more detailed backstory. In contrast, the He-Man from the original movie was just a visitor from a faraway place and wasn’t a particularly well-developed character.

This new version of Masters of the Universe features a He-Man who is much more likable and easier for viewers to support.

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2026-01-23 05:04