The upcoming Masters of the Universe movie has Idris Elba playing Man-At-Arms, and the actor has a very personal reason for saying yes to the role. Elba, 53, recently opened up about his childhood connection to the franchise. He explained that growing up, his parents could not afford Star Wars action figures, so he ended up with He-Man toys instead. That childhood memory made joining the new film an easy decision for the British star.
Elba’s Childhood Connection to He-Man Toys
Elba shared his story in an interview with Empire magazine. He said the He-Man cartoon was a big part of his early years. His parents chose the cheaper option when buying toys for him.
“It’s a really big part of my childhood. My parents couldn’t afford the Star Wars toys, and the He-Man toys were cheaper, because it wasn’t as big. So I had He-Man, She-Ra, Battle Cat … The cartoons were always a little bit more fun, a bit more camp, a bit more out-there.”
That honest reason shows why Elba felt a real connection to the project. He was not just taking another movie job. He was going back to a world he actually played in as a kid.
Director Travis Knight’s Vision Sold Him on the Role
Elba also gave credit to director Travis Knight, known for Bumblebee and Kubo and the Two Strings. Knight wanted to honor the original look and feel of the 1980s cartoon and toy line. That promise made Elba commit fully to the part.
Elba admitted that saying yes came with one big worry. He laughed and said, “S***, I’ve gotta get into the gym!” Playing Duncan, the royal guard general of Eternia, required a physically strong appearance. He described the filming experience as being inside a giant amusement arcade surrounded by larger-than-life characters.
Jared Leto Plays a ‘Toxic’ Version of Skeletor
Jared Leto takes on the role of Skeletor, the main villain of the movie. Director Knight explained that Leto approached the team himself because he loved the character and had his own personal history with Skeletor. Knight described this new version of the villain as the physical form of toxic masculinity.
Skeletor in this film is scary and menacing, but also insecure and funny. Leto worked hard to create a unique voice for the character. Knight praised Leto for “swinging for the fences” with his performance. Other villains in the movie include Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Skeletor’s second-in-command, Sam C. Wilson as Trap Jaw, Hafthor Bjornsson as Goat Man, and Kojo Attah as Tri-Klops.
The Movie’s Story and Release Date
Masters of the Universe will hit theaters on June 5, 2026. The film comes from Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel Films. The story follows a young Prince Adam (played by Nicholas Galitzine) who crashes on Earth as a child and grows up away from his home planet Eternia. Years later, the Sword of Power leads him back to Eternia. He finds his home destroyed under Skeletor’s rule. To save his family, Adam must become He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe.
Early reactions from advanced screenings have been positive. Viewers called the action scenes amazing and praised Elba’s performance as Duncan. His fight scenes against Trap Jaw received special mention. The casting director received compliments for picking the right actors for every role.
Elba Also Opens Up About James Bond Rumors
Around the same time as his Masters of the Universe interviews, Elba also spoke with British GQ about the long-running rumors that he could become the next James Bond. He said those talks were never realistic. He explained that Bond is a character with a very fixed image around the world. In some markets, audiences would not accept a Black actor playing the British spy. He warned against trying to make the character “woke” and said Bond should stay true to what it is: pure escapism.
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Full Cast List
The main cast of Masters of the Universe includes:
- Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam / He-Man
- Jared Leto as Skeletor
- Idris Elba as Duncan / Man-At-Arms
- Camila Mendes as Teela
- Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn
- Morena Baccarin as Sorceress
- Kristen Wiig as Roboto
- James Purefoy, Charlotte Riley, and Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson in supporting roles
Viewers in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and India can watch the film in theaters starting June 5, 2026.
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