Summary
The newMasters of the Universemovie is hotly anticipated, as is the casting decision for actors who could play Skeletor, He-Man’s arch-nemesis within the franchise. This far-reaching universe started as a toy and comic, then blossomed into a beloved children’s animated series.He-Man and the Masters of the Universehas been made into a live-action feature-length film before,to disastrous results. The 1987 iteration starring Dolph Lundgren has largely been forgotten by fans for how it failed to live up to fans' and critics' expectations.
Galitzine has recently made headlines for his performance as Hayes Campbell inThe Idea of Youand Prince Henry inRed, White & Royal Blue.
However, things are looking up for the upcoming addition to theHe-Mancanon, as Nicholas Galitzine is the newestactor cast inMasters of the Universe. Galitzine has recently made headlines for his performance as Hayes Campbell inThe Idea of Youand Prince Henry inRed, White & Royal Blue. Despite these films falling into the rom-com genre,Galitzine is more than up to the challenge of taking on an action role, but he’ll need a strong counterpart as Skeletor.Whoever plays the villainous antagonist inMasters of the Universemust capture a character who’s pure evil.
Masters Of The Universe: Release Date, Cast, Story, & Everything We Know
The classic ’80s franchise Masters of the Universe is returning to the big screen, and there are already a ton of exciting updates.
10Willem Dafoe
Known for Poor Things (2023) & Spider-Man (2002)
In the fantasy world ofMasters of the Universe, the terrible Skeletor will get to experiment more with character than the heroic He-Man.
There are few places Willem Dafoe won’t go when taking on his wide range of incredible and complex roles. Since the earliest part of his career, Dafoe has balanced taking on kind, tragic, and contemptible characters. He gives each the weight and attention they deserve. As an actor,Dafoe understands that the antagonist is just as important if not even more than the hero,and often gets to have more fun. In the fantasy world ofMasters of the Universe, the terrible Skeletor will get to experiment more with character than the heroic He-Man.
Poor Thingssaw Dafoe don a number of prosthetics and transform into a character that appeared straight out of a fairytale.The ability to handle both practical and CGI effects will be important for Skeletor’s actor,as the production team will most likely have the character appear as he does in the comics, with a skeleton face. Regardless, Dafoe will be able to deliver an exceptional performance even if his face is hidden beneath a mask because of his experience and skill.
Poor Things
Cast
Poor Things is a sci-fi romance film from The Lobster director Yorgos Lanthimos. The story focuses on the bizarre and fantastical world of Bella Baxter after a scientist named Dr. Godwin Baxter brings her back to life. The film is based on the 1992 novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray.
9Idris Elba
Known for Luther (2010–2019) &Thor(2011)
Early in his career, Idris Elba was immediately singled out for his unforgettable performance inThe Wire, one of the best television shows of all time. Later, he became the titular character inLuther, a show with elements of crime dramas and psychological thrillers, which was consistently elevated by Elba’s performance. Elba has proved that he’s comfortable in a variety of projects, asstories rooted in reality have not been all he’s taken on. As Heimdall inThorand other Marvel offerings, he was a fantastic addition to the franchise.
While Elba might be more closely associated with serious dramatic work rather than superheroes and comics, that doesn’t mean he couldn’t bring this gravity and notoriety to Skeletor inMasters of the Universe.No one yet knows the tone that the new movie will strike,and it’s possible that within its fantasy world, there will be plenty of opportunity for quality acting from everyone involved. It takes a great actor to make audiences feel an emotional connection to villains, but Elba could accomplish this as Skeletor.
Luther
Modern-day Sherlock Holmes John Luther, played by Idris Elba, uses his brilliant detective skills to solve murder cases with the unlikely help of murderer Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson). The BBC crime thriller aired for five seasons and continued with the 2023 feature film Luther: The Fallen Sun.
8Giancarlo Esposito
Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring inBreaking Badwas the role of a lifetime and one that Esposito embodied perfectly. However, since the show ended, he’s only grown in relevance and ability, especially as a villain.It’s largely due toBreaking Badthat Esposito is first seen as an antagonist,as a good role can pigeonhole an actor. However, it works out as Esposito knows what he’s doing as these scheming and brilliant characters, making the audience as scared as they are intrigued.
The past several years have seen Esposito with a hand in many great TV series likeThe Gentlemen,Parish, andThe Boys.
The past several years have seen Esposito with a hand in many great TV series likeThe Gentlemen,Parish, andThe Boys. With his reported future in the MCU coming to fruition, it seems there’s nothing he can’t do. Though Marvel will take up some of his time,Esposito would be perfect for Skeletor, and would bring in a niche of audience membersMasters of the Universeshould target.Fans of the shows Esposito has starred in would jump at the chance to see him in something new.
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg.
7Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Negan inThe Walking Deadwas so popular that he got his own spinoff,The Walking Dead: Dead City. Additionally,Morgan is playing a new character inThe Boysseason 4, who audiences are intrigued to learn more about, as his fate remains a mystery. All in all, Morgan has only grown in popularity as an actor since his early work inSupernaturalandGrey’s Anatomy. Of all the characters he’s played thus far,Negan is the closest to Skeletor, as he’s a brutal killer inThe Walking Dead.
In terms of film work, Morgan hasn’t had an explosive career, though his recent movie,The Postcard Killings, found a new life after being added to streaming. Despite this and his busy schedule with his many new shows and roles, Morgan could find time to add playing a major villain in an upcoming franchise to his list of accomplishments. The terror Negan sparks, whenever he’s onscreen inThe Walking Dead,is exactly what the actor who plays Skeletor needs to bring. Additionally,Morgan is unafraid of being known as a villain by audiences.
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is a television series that premiered on July 20, 2025. It follows Sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes, who awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. He embarks on a journey to locate his family, encountering various survivors amidst the chaos.
6Samuel L. Jackson
Known for The Avengers Franchise (2012–2019) & Pulp Fiction (1994)
However, Jackson is capable of playing a multitude of characters outside of Fury.
No one knew what Marvel would become when the first of theAvengersfranchise movies premiered in 2012. However, Samuel L. Jackson has already been a part of Marvel as Nick Fury since the beginning, with the 2008Iron Man. Jackson has proven to be one of the most enduring and bankable stars in the Marvel arsenal. However, Jackson is capable of playing a multitude of characters outside of Fury.He will likely only continue to be one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywoodas he ages.
His frequent collaborations with high-profile directors like Quentin Tarantino and Matthew Vaughn have propelled Jackson to the forefront of action and thriller projects.Jackson has a strong audience base in the action and superhero genresthanks to his previous work. Casting actors with this kind of box-office appeal will be paramount forMasters of the Universe’s success. Many of his roles have been antagonistic, but few have been such central villains, and as Skeletor, Jackson would have the opportunity to be singled out for a great performance.
5Ken Watanabe
Known for Tokyo Vice (2022–Present) & The Last Samurai (2003)
Tokyo Vicehas recently let Ken Watanabe explore film noir and the crime thriller genre, as the detective Hiroto Katagiri. Before this, Watanabe had built a reputation for being a skilled actor who could acclimate to a variety of projects, from period pieces to fantasy thrillers. In Christopher Nolan’sBatman Begins, he treads territory that could be compared to Skeletor inMaster of the Universe. He also starred in Nolan’sInception, demonstrating how he is a grounding force in even the most heady and complex narratives.
This is similar to his workin the recentGodzillamovies, in which he centers his character’s development in the middle of the story’s confusionand science fiction elements. It would be interesting to see Watanabe’s take on Skeletor, as his roles are often nuanced and layered instead of the black-and-white battle of good versus evil that theHe-Manstories usually center on. However, casting actors like Watanabe could spur the creative team to explore new territory and push the boundaries of whatMasters of the Universecan do.
Tokyo Vice
Based on the novel and the true experiences of Jake Adelstein, Tokyo Vice is a drama thriller series that sees the first American journalist ever to join a Japanese newspaper, forced to start at the bottom of the totem pole to earn his place. Set loose under a vice detective’s close tutelage and supervision, Jake steps into the Yakuza-led underworld of Tokyo and learns what it means to ask too many questions.
4Mads Mikkelsen
Known for Hannibal (2013–2015) & Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen has long been singled out for his quiet confidence and the demanding roles he takes on. However,Mikkelsen rose to prominence, particularly with U.S. audiences, through his work as Hannibal Lecter in the TV seriesHannibal,which reimagined the famed franchise. He and his costar, Hugh Dancy, took great strides in pushing their critically acclaimed show to new heights as it evolved from a simple crime procedural to a cerebral exploration of criminal intent. Since then, Mikkelsen has lent his skills to many projects, playing the bad guy more often than not.
He’s made himself at home in these superhero and magic-filled fantasy worlds, and all that’s next for the actor is to embody Skeletor inMaster of the Universeto fulfill his newfound niche in genre work.
Mikkelsen has made a name for himself playing the sinister villainwith malicious intent, as he did early on inCasino Royale, expertly playing off of Daniel Graig’s performance as James Bond. Most recently, Mikkelsen has found himself in Marvel’sDoctor Strangeand theHarry PotterspinoffFantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. He’s made himself at home in these superhero and magic-filled fantasy worlds, and all that’s next for the actor is to embody Skeletor inMaster of the Universeto fulfill his newfound niche in genre work.
Hannibal
Created for TV by Bryan Fuller, Hannibal is a TV adaptation/reimagining of Thomas Harris' Red Dragon novel. The show follows the exploits of FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) and their perpetual game of cat and mouse that unfolds over the series. When a string of murders in Minnesota requires a brilliant mind to crack the case, Will Graham is called in to investigate - but due to the intimate and terrifying nature of the crimes, he is appointed Dr. Lecter to act as his psychiatrist. The truth of Dr. Lecter is that he is Will’s target - but to complicate matters, he’s the only person that can truly understand him.
3Javier Bardem
Known for Dune: Part Two (2024) & No Country For Old Men (2007)
Javier Bardem’s best movieshave encompassed such a wide range of performances it’s difficult to narrow down what roles he shines in the most. However, one of his most iconic, Anton Chigurh, inNo Country For Old Men, makes it obvious that Bardem would be unforgettable as Skeletor. Chigurh is truly terrifying and cold-blooded, two traits that must be communicated in any actor’s performance as Skeletor.ForMasters of the Universeto carry the proper weight with audiences, the stakes must feel high,which comes down to the villain.
Additionally, as Stilgar inDune: Part One, andDune: Part Two, Bardem’s timing is on full display. Though Skeletor isn’t supposed to be a funny villain, he must be clever and the smartest in the room, and Bardem can portray this.Skeletor’s goal is to conquer the entire universe, starting with He-Man and Castle Grayskull,which will likely be featured prominently in the upcoming movie. Bardem understands how to play characters with a single-minded goal, and can simultaneously build out this singular mission to be three-dimensional.
Dune: Part Two
Dune: Part Two continues the epic saga of Paul Atreides as he allies with Chani and the Fremen. Pursuing retribution for his family’s devastation, Paul grapples with a significant decision impacting his personal desires and the universe’s future, attempting to avert a dire destiny that only he anticipates.
2Oscar Isaac
Known for Moon Knight (2022) & Dune: Part One (2021)
All this franchise work has been strong and tees him up to take on a new movie universe with even greater longevity.
As he’s aged into even more complex roles, Oscar Isaac never disappoints,seamlessly disappearing into whatever his new character requires of him. Some of his biggest roles have been starring inMoon Knight, the most recentStar Warstrilogy, andDune: Part One. All this franchise work has been strong and tees him up to take on a new movie universe with even greater longevity. Though he’s been featured prominently in these projects, he hasn’t been the protagonist, or, as inMoon Knight, it was a miniseries with a limited number of episodes.
IfMasters of the Universesucceeds, it could go on for a long time. While this can be daunting for some actors, Isaac is a professional and knows the demands and rewards of signing a multi-year contract. Additionally,he’s an expert at collaborating with younger actors.Isaac knows how to develop a strong chemistry, as with Timothée Chalamet inDune. Though Galitzine’s He-Man and Isaac’s Skeletor would be on opposite sides of the conflict, this necessitates a magnetic dynamic between the two actors which Isaac could easily achieve.
Moon Knight
Moon Knight stars Oscar Isaac as Steven Grant, a gift-shop employee in London who discovers he has dissociative identity disorder. He shares a body with Marc Spector and together, they travel to Egypt to uncover a deadly mystery surrounding the gods.Moon Knightconsisted of six episodes and was the fifth live-action TV show in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4. Also starring in the series is Ethan Hawke as the villainous Arthur Harrow and May Calamawy as Layla El-Faouly.
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.
1David Tennant
Known for Doctor Who (1963–Present) & Good Omens (2019–Present)
David Tennant was so well-loved as the tenth Doctor inDoctor Who, that he was brought back several timesthroughout the series, long after the Doctor regenerated into their eleventh incarnation. While the Doctor is well-known for being one of sci-fi’s greatest heroes, that doesn’t mean Tennant should only be typecast as an altruistic character. His performances inJessica JonesandGood Omensprove he’s capable of playing a villain. This was particularly apparent inJessica Jones, as his character, Kilgrave, is truly vile.
Additionally, with a background in theater and stage performance, Tennant brings great nuance to his characters, as he understands no role is one-dimensional. However, Tennant has not been in many films, mainly sticking to TV and theater throughout his long career. This could be for a variety of reasons, but his playing Skeletor inMasters of the Universewould be a great opportunity to step out of his comfort zone and join a potential movie franchise. It’s clear he’s more than up to the challenge of playing Skeletor with malice and true evil.
Doctor Who
Doctor Who: Released on July 08, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
