LAIKA CEO Travis Knight willl now direct the film, which was dropped by Netflix last July after $30 million was spent in development; release set for Summer 2026.
Adam and Aaron Nee’s live-action Masters of the Universe film has found its new home after Netflix dropped it last July, reports Variety. The project was originally axed due to budget concerns after years of production roadblocks and $30 million sunk in development and actor fees. The project will now call Amazon MGM Studios home after talks with the studio were announced late last year.
Unfortunately, the Nees are no longer attached to direct or write the film. LAIKA CEO and director Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings, Bumblebee) has taken the helm, with the animated Kubo and Missing Link writer Chris Butler set to pen a new screenplay.
Masters focuses on the age-old rivalry between He-Man and Skeletor, an integral plot point of the original 1980s animated series. An entire franchise, including sequels and a TV show, was reportedly in the works before the project was axed.
According to its official synopsis, Masters of the Universe introduces a 10-year-old Prince Adam, who crashed to Earth in a spaceship and was separated from his magical Power Sword — the only link to his home on Eternia.
“After tracking it down almost two decades later,” the synopsis explains, “Prince Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor. But to defeat such a powerful villain, Prince Adam will first need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man: the most powerful man in the Universe!”
While casting has not yet been announced for the project, with such big changes to the creative team it may be safe to assume original He-Man lead Kyle Allen (A Haunting in Venice) will not return.
Mattel Films’ Robbie Brenner, Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch produce.
For those that need an immediate He-Man fix, Kevin Smith’s animated series Masters of the Universe: Revelation and Masters of the Universe: Revolution streaming now on Netflix.
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