Summary
Amazon MGM is reviving a classic with a live-actionMasters of the Universereboot, set for release in 2026 with Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, but the original real-life He-Man deserves a spot too. Dolph Lundgren scored his first lead role in 1987 when he starred as He-Man in thelive-action adaptation ofMasters of the Universe, which was meant to capitalize on the massive success of the animated series. Unfortunately, the movie was a commercial failure and received mostly negative reviews, but Lundgren’s performance was nonetheless memorable. With the reboot’s cast still unconfirmed, Lundgren should be considered.
Fresh off of thehit animated seriesMasters of the Universe: Revolution, the new take on the world needs a big casting update. The prime of Lundgren’s career may be behind us, as he has already contributed plenty enough to Hollywood, with memorable performances in theRockyandExpendablesseries. However, he just recently proved that his increasing age isn’t a detriment to his abilities, leading his self-directed action movieWanted Man. While wielding the Power Sword may be in his past,there’s no reason Lundgren can’t appear in the newMasters of the Universemovie in some form.
New Live-Action Masters Of The Universe Movie Is Flipping A Huge Part Of Dolph Lundgren’s 1987 Disaster
The new live-action Masters of the Universe movie is flipping the biggest problem with the 1987 version – but it might still suffer for it.
Why Dolph Lundgren Needs To Appear In He-Man’s New Movie
A Cameo From The Original Live-Action He-Man Would Be Perfect For The Reboot
Mattel’sMasters of the Universetoy line led to one of the most iconic cartoons ever, and various studios have attempted to profit from its success. The original live-action adaptation was met with negative reception, flopping at the box office and receiving a 21% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite this obvious failure, Dolph Lundgren became an important and nostalgic part of the franchise and the first live-action He-Man, a widely-respected hero with a passionate fandom behind him. We know thatrom-com starNicholas Galitzine will star inMasters of the Universe, and Lundgren needs to pass the torch.
We only know the basics about the plot of the upcoming live-action reboot, but whatever is being planned should include the original He-Man in some way. Whether it’s a supporting role or small cameo, Lundgren deserves the chance to revisit the franchise responsible for his first lead role and deliver a final goodbye to He-Man.WIth the current popularity of multiverse stories, his version of He-Man could appear as a mentor to Galitzine, with one option proving particularly tempting.
Dolph Lundgren Would Be The Perfect Choice To Play He-Man’s Father
Amazon MGM Needs A Convincing King Randor
Another way that Lundgren could effectively pass the torch to Galitzine is toportray He-Man’s father, King Randor. Inthe mix of exciting characters within theMasters of the Universefranchise, King Randor is known as the noble leader of Eternia, and the father of powerful twins Prince Adam, who transforms into He-Man, and Princess Adora (a.k.a She-Ra). Truthfully, Lundgren does not physically embody the character at all, but he could still make a convincing choice. His commanding on-screen presence and history with the franchise are major qualifications to give He-Man fans a great King Randor.
The perfect choice would be casting the first live-action He-Man to lead this new version of Eternia as King Randor
Netflix’sMasters of the Universe: Revolutionrecently received huge praise and brought new life to the franchise,so there’s pressure on Amazon to not repeat the mistakes of the 1987 movie. Only two characters have been cast for the reboot so far, with Galitzine beingjoined byRiverdale’s Camila Mendes as the warrior Teela, and it’s safe to assume thatMasters of the Universewill include more of the franchise’s best heroes and villains, including King Randor. With the movie set to explore Prince Adam and not just He-Man, his family may get impressive screen time, and the perfect choice would be casting the first live-action He-Man to lead this new version of Eternia as King Randor and offer royal wisdom to his replacement.
He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword
1985
He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special
Masters of the Universe
1987
Masters of the Universe (upcoming)
2026
Other Masters Of The Universe Characters Dolph Lundgren Could Play
We Still Don’t Know Who WIll Play Skeletor In The New Movie
There are manyMasters of the Universecharacters that still need to be adaptedto live-action, including fan favorites like Mer-Man, the King of the Seas. Lundgren has experience as underwater royalty after playing King Nereus in 2018’sAquamanfor the DC Universe, so Mer-Man would be a natural next step.If studio executives don’t envisionan appearance from Lundgren’s He-Man through some sort of multiverse or time-travel plotline, there are plenty of options on the table. He could very well capture the strength and fierceness of Fisto, or bring the savage villain Beast-Man to the big screen.
Check out the 2002 continuation ofHe-Man and the Masters of the Universefor the best of Beast-Man and Mer-Man, both voiced by actor Scott McNeil.
Lundgren is clearly capable of playing an unforgettable bad guy, most notably Ivan Drago in theRockymovies, and there is no confirmation as to who will play He-Man’s big rival and probably the reboot’s main antagonist, Skeletor. While there is an established list ofactors who would be great choices for Skeletor, Lundgren should be in the conversation as well. Skeletor has been a threat to Eternia and its heroes for 42 years, and this version needs an iconic actor behind him. Dolph Lundgren has every right to get a second shot atMasters of the Universe, and Skeletor is a bold but intriguing option.
