Untitled Masters of the Universe film

Teaser poster with original release date.

## Production

### Development

In October 2004, it was announced that Fox 2000 tapped John Woo to direct and produce a live-action adaptation of “He-Man,” based on *Masters of the Universe*. Adam Rifkin was announced to adapt the screenplay. Woo and Terence Chang were announced to produce the film through their Lion Rock Prods. Elizabeth Gabler and director of production Rodney Farrell were also announced to oversee development. Nothing came into fruition and the project was eventually given back to Mattel.

In May 2007, it was reported that Warner Bros. Pictures and Silver Pictures were in talks with Mattel to make a film theatrical film based on "He-Man". Justin Marks was announced to write the script with Joel Silver producing and Neil Ellice co-producing. Marks titled the script *Grayskull: The Masters of the Universe*, which was described by outsiders as "*Lord of the Rings* and *Matrix* combined, in all reality". Around this time, Warner Bros. released *Speed Racer*, which was also produced by Joel Silver. Due to that film flopping, it caused issues between Silver and Warner Bros.  In November 2008, it was reported that John Stevenson, who just directed *Kung Fu Panda*, was in talks to direct *He-Man*. He was officially attached to the project in January 2009. In May 2009, it was announced that the scripting duties had been handed to Evan Daugherty with Stevenson still attached to direct. In September 2009, Sony took over the rights from Warner Bros. to produce the live-action adaptation after Mattel and producer Joel Silver, couldn't agree on creative direction for the film. Sony and Escape Artists' Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch were to start developing the project from scratch for Columbia Pictures. In April 2010, Sony hired screenwriters Mike Finch and Alex Litvak to draft a new script. The title of the film was announced to be called *Grayskull*. In late 2012, it was reported that Jon M. Chu was in talks to direct the film. Original He-Man actor Lundgren did an interview with IGN about a possible role in the film as King Randor. In October 2012, it was announced that Richard Wenk was hired to rewrite the script for the film. On March 28, 2013, Chu said that the film is still early is in the experimentation and also it won't be campy but an origin story.

On October 7, *The Hollywood Reporter* reported that Terry Rossio would script and that Black, Blumenthal, and Tisch would produce the film and it would be set on Eternia; the report stated Chu would not direct the film. With Mattel's new film division, Mattel Playground Productions, Julia Pistor and David Voss were attached as executive producers. The film was set to take place on Eternia, just like the mythology of the toy and the 1980s cartoon series.

In January 2014, Schmoes Know reported that Joe Cornish (*Attack the Block*), Rian Johnson (*Looper*), Andrés Muschietti (*Mama*), Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders (*The Croods*), and Phil Lord and Chris Miller (*The Lego Movie*) were named as frontrunners to direct the film. In February, it was reported that directors Mike Cahill, Jeff Wadlow, Harald Zwart, and Chris McKay are on the short list to direct. In April, Schmoes Know reported that Wadlow would direct the film, but *The Hollywood Reporter* announced that he's rewriting the script of the film.

In August 2015, it was announced that Chris Yost had been hired to write the film. In January 2016, it was announced that McG would direct the film and would also oversee a rewrite of the latest script by Alex Litvak and Mike Finch, while Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch as well as DeVon Franklin were on board as producers. In June 2016, Kellan Lutz tweeted that he had scheduled a meeting with both McG and Mary Viola about the role of He-Man. In April 2017, it was announced that the film would be released on December 18, 2019.

At the same time, McG left the film and David S. Goyer was hired to rewrite the script. In December 2017, it was reported that Goyer was now set to not only write but direct the film. In February 2018, *Variety* reported that Goyer had decided to step away as director to focus on other projects, but he would remain on board as an executive producer and screenwriter and the studio was said to be very happy with the script he turned in and was currently meeting with potential replacements. Carlos Huante, a creature designer and former artist at Industrial Light and Magic who also worked on the original Filmation cartoon, was hired by Goyer to work on his film, however, in an interview, Huante said that Sony felt that Goyer's script would be too expensive to bring to life as Goyer intended for the movie to be on the epic scale of *The Lord of the Rings* trilogy and that his ideas for the film would no longer be used.

In April 2018, *Variety* reported that the Nee Brothers (Aaron and Adam Nee) would direct the film. In January 2019, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway were brought in and it was announced that they would rewrite a new draft for the film.

### Pre-production

Principal photography on the film was scheduled to begin in mid-July 2019 in Prague. On March 20, 2019, it was reported that Noah Centineo was in talks to play He-Man. with Centineo confirming a month later that he had been officially cast to play He-Man. Sony then announced that the film's release date would be changing to March 5, 2021. In January 2020, the film was pulled from Sony's release schedule, with its March release date filled by *Uncharted* (which was later pushed back several months). In April 2021, it was reported that Centineo exited the film, vacating the role of He-Man. In January 2022, it was announced that Netflix had officially acquired the film from Sony. This was in part due to two original shows based on the franchise, airing on Netflix, extending the relationship between Mattel and Netflix. Kyle Allen would now play He-Man. It was also revealed that David Callaham had written a new draft of the screenplay along with The Nee Brothers. Production is expected to begin in the summer of 2022.

### Filming

Filming was originally going to start in 2022 and is expected to be shot in Vancouver, Canada and Prague in Czech Republic. It was later mentioned that filming may start in 2023 due to the Nees studying and brainstorming ways to tell the story on a scale they think the film deserves. In October 2022, Allen mentioned that filming will start in April 2023.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mattel Films and Netflix Partner on Masters of the Universe Live-Action Motion Picture from The Nee Brothers
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Exclusive: 'Masters of the Universe' Directors Tease a “Colorful, Fun, and Irreverent” Live-Action Movie
3. ↑ Woo masters ‘He-Man’
4. ↑ Fox2000 no longer has the Power of Grayskull
5. ↑ By The Power of Grayskull: WB Develops He-Man
6. ↑ Justin Mark's He-Man Movie Potentially a Masterpiece?!
7. ↑ Kung Fu Panda Director John Stevenson Taking On He-Man?!
8. ↑ John Stevenson will direct Masters Of The Universe
9. ↑ Evan Daugherty Set for Grayskull
10. ↑ Barbie’s a Living Doll at Universal with Big Screen Plans
11. ↑ 'Predators' Writers Hired For 'Masters Of The Universe' And We Have Some Advice For Them
12. ↑ Jon M. Chu In 'Masters Of The Universe' Talks
13. ↑ Dolph Lundgren Up For An Appearance In The MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE Reboot
14. ↑ Wenk to pen ‘Masters of the Universe’
15. ↑ TR Interview: Jon M. Chu Talks *G.I. Joe: Retaliation*…and *Masters of the Universe*!
16. ↑ ‘Lone Ranger’ Co-Writer Tapped to Write ‘Masters of the Universe’ (Exclusive)
17. ↑ From the Desk of the Phantom: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Close to Happening; Looking at New Directors!
18. ↑ He-Man Film ‘Masters of the Universe’ Director Short-List Includes ‘Lego Movie’ Editor (Exclusive)
19. ↑ A PHANTOM EXCLUSIVE: Jeff Wadlow Will Direct MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE!
20. ↑ Jeff Wadlow to Rewrite ‘Masters of the Universe’
21. ↑ Christopher Yost to Write 'Masters of the Universe' Film
22. ↑ McG Orbiting ‘Masters Of The Universe’ At Sony
23. ↑ Kellan Lutz Met With McG About Masters Of The Universe Movie
24. ↑ *Masters Of The Universe* gets a release date, but loses its director
25. ↑ David S. Goyer in Talks to Direct He-Man Film ‘Masters of the Universe’ for Sony (Exclusive)
26. ↑ ‘Masters of the Universe’ Still Needs Director as David S. Goyer Passes (EXCLUSIVE)
27. ↑ David S. Goyer's 'Masters Of The Universe' Would Have Been A 'Lord Of The Rings'-Sized Epic
28. ↑ ‘Masters of the Universe’: Nee Brothers to Direct He-Man Movie (EXCLUSIVE)
29. ↑ ‘Masters Of The Universe’ Movie: Art Marcum & Matt Holloway To Write New Draft For Sony/Mattel Films
30. ↑ Filming Start Date for 'Masters Of The Universe' Movie Has Been Revealed
31. ↑ Noah Centineo in Talks to Play He-Man in Sony and Mattel Films ‘Masters of the Universe’ (Exclusive)
32. ↑ Noah Centineo Confirms He's Playing He-Man in 'Masters of the Universe': 'I Am Very Excited'
33. ↑ ‘Masters Of The Universe’ Attacking In 2021 Via Sony
34. ↑ Masters of the Universe Reboot Movie Loses Release Date
35. ↑ Exclusive: Noah Centineo Exits 'Masters of the Universe' Movie at Sony
36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 ‘Masters Of The Universe’ Live-Action Mattel Movie Heads To Netflix After Being In Development At Sony; Kyle Allen To Play He-Man
37. ↑ Mattel Films Segment From The 2022 Mattel Analyst Meeting
38. ↑ Masters of the Universe - Production Listing | Backstage
39. ↑ ‘Masters of the Universe’ Live-Action Netflix Movie: What We Know So Far October 18, 2022 Retrieved October 18, 2022
40. ↑ Kyle Allen to Play He-Man in Netflix and Mattel Films’ ‘Masters of the Universe’