Jared Leto to take on the role of Skeletor in ‘Masters of the Universe’ live-action movie

Posted On December 23, 2024December 23, 2024

After the intense success of Barbie in 2023, it is no surprise that Mattel are committing more of their iconic names to the silver screen. Most notably, a film based on the Masters of the Universe franchise is currently in the works with Amazon MGM Studios and is set to be released in June 2026, with cast members including Jared Leto.

The idea to create a new live-action film based on the world of Masters of the Universe has been kicking around since 2007 and has passed through countless hands and studios over the years. Seemingly, though, the success of Mattel’s Barbie in 2023 brought new interest to the project, and Travis Knight was brought on board as director alongside an already star-studded cast including Idris Elba, Alison Brie, and Nicholas Galitzine – who is set to play He-Man.

Ultimately, you cannot have He-Man without his arch nemesis Skeletor, and the latest announcement from the production revealed that Louisiana actor Jared Leto will take on that vital role. For the uninitiated, He-Man battles to save the planet Eternia from the evil forces of Skeletor. Since the franchise was first introduced back in 1982, those battling forces have taken on many forms – including books, comics, TV shows, and multiple feature films.

It is fairly likely that the film will rely heavily on nostalgia, with the heyday of He-Man and Skeletor occurring back in the 1980s. However, it is worth noting that Masters of the Universe has been producing a wealth of new instalments in the 21st century, including comic books, animated series, and, of course, action figures.

With that in mind, it is unclear whether Knight and Amazon MGM will aim the film towards an older, nostalgia-fueled audience or a younger audience getting into the franchise for the first time.

This will not be the first time Jared Leto has reckoned with playing a comic book villain. Back in 2016, the actor took on the role of perhaps the greatest comic villain of all time, playing The Joker in the much-maligned Suicide Squad, which he then reprised in The Justice League. Elsewhere, the actor has played the Marvel Comics character Morbius in a similarly disappointing effort for fans.

Nevertheless, the upcoming Masters of the Universe film promises to add new layers to the ever-adapted world of Eternia. Furthermore, the original live-action movie, 1987’s Masters of the Universe, sets an almost impressively low bar for this new project to beat.

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