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Movie Name : Masters of the Universe

Release Date : June 05, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.25/5
Starring : Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur, Jóhannesson, Kristen Wiig, Jared Leto, Idris Elba
Director : Travis Knight
Producers : Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal
Music Director : Daniel Pemberton
Cinematographer : Fabian Wagner
Editors :  Paul Rubell
Related Links : Trailer

Masters of the Universe is a Hollywood movie based on the beloved He-Man character. This is the second live action film adaptation after the 1987 film of the same name. Does this 2026 version make a difference, or does it meet the same fate as its predecessor? Let’s find out.

Story:

After being separated from Eternia during childhood following an attack by the evil Skeletor (Jared Leto), Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) grows up on Earth longing to return to his world. Fifteen years later, the legendary Sword of Power finally leads him back home, only to find Eternia under Skeletor’s rule. How Adam embraces his destiny as He-Man and fights to reclaim his kingdom forms the rest of the story.

Plus Points:

The biggest strength of Masters of the Universe is its visual presentation. The makers bring Eternia to life on an impressive scale, and seeing several iconic characters from the He-Man universe in live action is enjoyable. The production values are rich, and the fantasy world is designed well.

Idris Elba is the film’s standout performer. He brings strength, warmth, and humour to Duncan, making the character instantly likable. His screen presence adds value to several scenes, and his comic timing works particularly well.

Nicholas Galitzine is decent as Prince Adam. He handles the humorous side of the role well and puts in a sincere effort, even though the writing does not always support him.

Minus Points:

The biggest issue with the film is its portrayal of He-Man. Instead of presenting Prince Adam as a powerful and inspiring hero, the makers turn him into a goofy and self mocking character for most of the runtime. This approach weakens the impact of the character and takes away much of what made He-Man iconic.

The conflict between Adam and Skeletor never reaches the level it should. Despite Skeletor being responsible for the destruction of Adam’s world, their confrontations lack emotional weight and fail to generate excitement. The film never delivers the powerful hero versus villain moments that fans would expect.

The film starts on a promising note with the Eternia portions but loses momentum once the story shifts to Earth. Even after Adam returns to his world, the stakes remain surprisingly low, making the narrative less engaging than expected.

Another drawback is the screenplay. Several scenes feel familiar and predictable, often resembling moments from other superhero films. The excessive reliance on comedy further reduces the seriousness of the story and makes many scenes feel repetitive.

Fans may also be disappointed with the handling of popular characters. Battle Cat is underutilised throughout the film, while Orko’s appearance is so brief that one might miss it by simply blinking. After making fans wait throughout the film, the makers seem to have remembered Orko only at the very last minute and squeezed him into a cameo. Their limited presence significantly reduces the nostalgic appeal of the film.

Technical Aspects:

Director Travis Knight deserves credit for visualising Eternia effectively, and the cinematography, visual effects, and production design collectively help create a visually rich fantasy world. However, the screenplay lacks the emotional weight and excitement needed for a story of this scale. As a result, Adam’s journey never delivers the powerful heroic transformation audiences expect.

The background score is serviceable but rarely elevates the proceedings, while the editing could have been much tighter as several portions feel stretched. Coming to the Telugu dubbing, Nikhil does a decent job for the lead role, and Rao Ramesh performs well in his part. However, some of the remaining dubbing choices fail to leave an impression, and the voice chosen for Battle Cat feels completely mismatched.

Verdict:

On the whole, Masters of the Universe is a disappointing adaptation that gets the look of Eternia right but misses what made He-Man special in the first place. The visuals are impressive, but the weak screenplay, lack of emotional depth, and underwhelming conflict between Adam and Skeletor prevent the film from making any real impact. Fans who grew up watching the classic series will be disappointed by the film’s portrayal of He-Man, while today’s generation will find little that feels fresh or exciting. Apart from its visuals and occasional moments of humour, there is hardly anything memorable about this adaptation.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.25/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team