Alison Brie Commands the Press Circuit as Evil-Lyn and ‘Masters of the Universe’ Hits Theaters
Alison Brie has been one of the most visible presences on the press circuit for ‘Masters of the Universe’, and photos show exactly why. Dressed in a striking black mini dress during promotional appearances, Brie has been turning heads while championing the long-awaited live-action revival of the beloved Mattel franchise, in which she plays the iconic villainess Evil-Lyn.
In the film, Brie stars as Evil-Lyn, Skeletor’s second-in-command, a sorceress who wields a magic wand topped with a crystal orb. She appears opposite Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man and Camila Mendes as Teela, captain of the royal guard. It is a role that clearly energised the actress, who has spoken enthusiastically about the character throughout the promotional run.
Speaking to USA Today, Brie said she watched a great deal of the original cartoon in preparation and described Evil-Lyn as a classic femme fatale with a sense of humor, calling the role “just unlike anything I’ve ever really done.” Appearing on TODAY, she also opened up about how her physical work on ‘GLOW’ helped prepare her for the sword fighting and hand-to-hand combat required for the part.
The film is directed by Travis Knight and features a screenplay by Chris Butler. It is produced by Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel Films, with Sony Pictures Releasing handling international distribution. The running time is 141 minutes. The wider ensemble includes Jared Leto as Skeletor, Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms, Kristen Wiig, Morena Baccarin, and James Purefoy.
The franchise has a long history behind it. The popular Mattel line launched in 1982, followed by the animated series in 1983, and the last live-action film dates back to 1987, starring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Meg Foster as the original cinematic Evil-Lyn. The new production has been in various stages of development since 2007, making its arrival a genuinely long time coming for fans of the property.
The film opened with 11.7 million dollars on its first Friday including previews, earning a B CinemaScore from general audiences. Children under 12 rated it at 96% in the top two boxes, and the production leaned heavily into IMAX and premium large format screens, which represented 44% of its opening weekend revenue.
The opening weekend landed at roughly 31 million dollars domestically, which analysts described as a soft start given the film’s reported production budget of over 170 million dollars.
Critics have been more receptive, with the film holding a Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting the creative product has landed better than its commercial debut might indicate. Whether strong word of mouth can carry the film toward a longer run remains to be seen, but Brie’s scene-stealing presence both on and off screen gives the studio one of its best assets going into the weeks ahead.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!
