June 2026 marks the first time audiences have been able to visit Eternia on the silver screen in almost four decades. Masters of the Universe tells an action-packed origins story for Adam or He-Man. It also introduces viewers to several well-known heroes and villains from the previous movie of the same name and the series.
Early reviews have been somewhat mixed, but we thoroughly enjoyed Masters of the Universe 2026. Nicholas Galitzine puts on a great performance as Adam, and the casting is strong across the board, including Camila Mendes as Teela and Idris Elba as the Man-At-Arms.
Jared Leto also puts on a show as the legendary villain himself, Skeletor. He provides a dramatic, almost comic-book-like portrayal of the character, played for laughs while also being undeniably evil. The movie basks in how wild Eternia would seem compared to the real world, offering a unique blend of futuristic sci-fi and high fantasy that few other franchises attempt to emulate.
The story of Masters of the Universe is fairly straightforward, as is the ending. However, a couple of scenes during the post-credits don’t just hint at a potential sequel; they also tease some incredible additions if we get a Masters of the Universe 2. While the movie is an easy watch, it also features a few unexpected deaths, with one in particular hitting surprisingly hard.
The title also contains many nods to established lore and even elevates one particular character into a role far more prevalent than fans will expect. Needless to say, we’re delving deep into spoiler territory for this article, but here are some of the biggest reveals, character additions, and surprise deaths in Masters of the Universe.
Masters Of The Universe’s Biggest Deaths
Skeletor Kills Moss Man
Fans of established Masters of the Universe lore will be happy to see that Moss Man appears in the latest film, albeit in a minor role. Moss Man is always portrayed as one of He-Man’s allies, but suffers a grisly fate.
Adam escapes Skeletor’s clutches, along with Teela, her father, and the Sword of Power, when he returns to Eternia. Skeletor rounds up the Eternian prisoners and decides to make an example out of Moss Man. He zaps Moss Man with his staff, killing him instantly and reducing him to a puddle of ‘mulch.’
Adam Accidentally Kills His Father, King Randor
One of the most emotional scenes in Masters of the Universe is when Adam reunites with King Randor (James Purefoy) after 15 years on Earth. He knows Skeletor is holding his father captive and decides to face him head-on.
Adam fights bravely, but he’s outnumbered, and Evil-Lyn’s magic evens the playing field. During his fight with Skeletor, he accidentally hits a wall with his sword, forcing the ceiling to come crashing down on his father.
King Randor is already weakened and frail after years of captivity under Skeletor. Adam attempts to free him from the rubble, but the pair can only exchange a few words until he passes away.
Roboto Is Destroyed By Trap Jaw (But Gets Rebuilt)
Trap Jaw isn’t on the same level as Skeletor or Evil-Lyn, but he’s a prominent villain in Masters of the Universe lore. He’s also a powerful antagonist in the 2026 movie and is surprisingly resilient.
During the final act, we see Trap Jaw attack Duncan and Roboto in a flying vehicle. Roboto is blown apart by gunfire, but its head remains intact. Later in the movie, we see Duncan has repaired Roboto, complete with the transparent front plate and visible cogs the character is known for.
Duncan Finally Defeats Trap Jaw
Trap Jaw and Duncan fight twice in the new Masters of the Universe movie. We see Duncan attempting to protect King Randor and his family near the start of the movie when Adam is still a young boy. He defeats numerous enemies, but Trap Jaw proves to be a deadly opponent.
The pair have a 1v1 showdown. Duncan seems to have the upper hand at one point, but Trap Jaw ultimately defeats the Man-At-Arms, though he survives the encounter.
The pair have a rematch after Trap Jaw defeats Roboto. They have a close-range brawl inside a flying ship, and Duncan deals the final blow by forcing an explosive into Trap Jaw’s mouth. We never see a body, but we do see the vehicle explode in a massive fireball, presumably with Trap Jaw still inside.
Adam Destroys Skeletor – But The Villain Is Teased To Return
The dramatic final showdown in Masters of the Universe occurs at Castle Greyskull. Teela battles Evil-Lyn while Adam fights Skeletor. It’s an intense battle, but Adam, as He-Man, hits Skeletor so hard he knocks his head off.
The movie ends with Skeletor defeated, though his fate remains undetermined thanks to the post-credits sequence. We see Evil-Lyn return to the area and claim his head. She mocks his skull as she picks it up and hides it in her robes before leaving the area.
Masters Of The Universe’s Biggest Surprise Cameos & Characters
1987’s He-Man Actor Dolph Lundgren Makes An Appearance
A large portion of Masters of the Universe is devoted to Adam’s life on Earth. He struggles to fit in, surrounded by people who don’t believe his stories of Eternia or his quest to find the Sword of Power.
Seeking inspiration, Adam visits the gym and ends up in the biggest cameo scene of the movie. He runs into Dolph Lundgren, who played the hero of Eternia in the 1987 Masters of the Universe movie. A toned Lundgren gives Adam a motivational speech, offering a respectful nod to the original theatrical release.
The First Credits Scene Introduces Orko
Orko is another fan-favorite character in the Masters of the Universe roster. He’s a ‘Trollan,’ and resembles a small floating creature complete with a mage-style pointy hat and robes.
The Trollan does not appear in the main portion of the movie, but he does in the post-credits scene. Orko frequently wished audiences farewell at the end of each episode in the series and does the same in the 2026 film. The Trollan says something to the effect of “Until next time,” implying there could be a sequel.
She-Ra Debuts In The Second Credits Scene
Masters of the Universe has a post-credit scene, and then another after the second credit crawl. These scenes offer a tantalizing glimpse of what could happen in a sequel, and the biggest reveal of all is arguably She-Ra.
We never see She-Ra’s face, and instead only see her from the back wearing her iconic red cape. Fans of the show will also recognize her Sword of Protection, which looks quite different from Adam’s Sword of Power as it has a blue gem fitted into the hilt.
Masters Of The Universe’s Biggest Spoilers & Reveals
Adam Almost Dies After Being Stabbed By Skeletor
Adam and Skeletor have an intense showdown at the end of Masters of the Universe. Adam doesn’t arrive at the battle with the Sword of Power in hand, as it’s in Skeletor’s possession.
During the fight, we see Adam grab the weapon, but Skeletor blasts it with his staff. The attack is so devastating that it shatters the Sword of Power into multiple pieces. Skeletor then grabs the hilt with a jagged piece of the blade attached and stabs Adam through the chest.
After a vivid flashback scene featuring the sorceress, Adam realizes that while the Sword is broken, it’s not the source of his power. He pulls the blade from his chest and finally transforms into He-Man, turning the tide of the final battle.
Dian Is A Main Member Of He-Man’s Team
Masters of the Universe is full of respectful nods to the source material, including beloved heroes and villains. The 2026 movie also features a rather unusual character because they are so obscure in the He-Man universe.
Christiaan Bettridge plays Dian in Masters of the Universe. The movie reveals that Dian bullied Adam when he was younger, and she plays a semi-prominent role in the 2026 film. Much about her abilities or powers remains unknown, but we see her stylishly fend off multiple enemies with her dual handguns.
Dian certainly isn’t a main character, but she is a unique inclusion, and time will tell if she features in a sequel.
Cringer Gets His Armor
Cringer is Adams’ faithful, if cowardly, cat, and we see him as a cub during the movie’s opening when Adam is still a young boy. Adam reunites with Cringer much later in the film and has grown so large that Teela and Adam can ride him into battle.
Much like Adam has a powered-up alter ego in He-Man, Cringer has one in his armored form, Battle Cat. Cringers’ transformation doesn’t seem tied to Adams in the 2026 movie, but we do briefly see him in his Battle Cat form before the credits roll.
Evil-Lyn Survives For A Potential Sequel
We’ve already covered all the major deaths in Masters of the Universe, but one notable antagonist did not get her comeuppance. In fact, she will likely be one of the main villains if we ever get a Masters of the Universe 2.
Evil-Lyn is Skeletor’s powerful magical ally and battles Teela at the end of the movie. However, she quietly vacates the area while Adam is battling Skeletor. We don’t see her again until the post-credits scene, where she collects Skeletor’s skull and jokes about his condition.
The Origins Of He-Man’s Name Explained
One of the funniest recurring jokes in Masters of the Universe is Adam’s vivid memories of Eternia before he came to Earth. When Teela takes him back to Eternia, he meets many characters he remembers from his boyhood. We also learn he forgot their names and issued them entirely new ones.
At the end of the movie, Teela brings up Adams’ strange naming choices and asks if he had one for himself. He gingerly replies that he called himself He-Man. When quizzed, Adam explains that he wanted a macho, masculine name and that ‘He-Man’ was the best he could come up with.
It’s funny and on-brand, from the same character who names his Eternian friends Fisto and Ram Man.
- Release Date
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June 5, 2026
- Director
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Travis Knight
- Writers
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Chris Butler
- Producers
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Jason Blumenthal, Robbie Brenner, Steve Tisch, Todd Black
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Nicholas Galitzine
Adam / He-Man
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