Alison Brie Is Eternia’s Most Stylish Villain as ‘Masters of the Universe’ Press Tour Heats Up
With a big-budget fantasy blockbuster arriving in theaters, the press circuit tends to become a spectacle of its own, and Alison Brie is making sure the pre-release buzz for ‘Masters of the Universe‘ is as memorable as the film itself. The actress has been front and center throughout the promotional run for the highly anticipated Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel Films production, and her recent appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers was no exception.
The film, which centers on Prince Adam of Eternia and his transformation into the muscular hero He-Man, is set for a theatrical release on June 5. Directed by Travis Knight, the production carries a reported budget of between $170 and $200 million, making it one of the more ambitious live-action franchise revivals in recent memory. With a cast that stretches from Nicholas Galitzine and Camila Mendes to Jared Leto, Kristen Wiig, and Idris Elba, the project has been building anticipation for quite some time.
Brie appeared on the NBC talk show this week looking effortlessly sharp in a plunging black blazer dress paired with sheer tights and heels, turning the Late Night stage into her personal runway. During her visit, she discussed stunts and swords from the new film, giving fans a teasing glimpse into what to expect from her turn as Skeletor’s formidable second-in-command.
Brie plays supervillain Evil-Lyn, who wields a magic wand topped with a crystal orb and serves as Skeletor’s second-in-command. And based on everything she has shared during the press tour, the role sounds like a genuine joy to inhabit. Speaking to PEOPLE at a New York fan screening, Brie described the characters by saying they are “evil, but they’re funny about it,” adding that director Travis Knight “really let us improvise a lot,” making everything feel “light on its feet.”
In an interview with Black Girl Nerds, Brie reflected on the deeper motivation driving her character, saying that Evil-Lyn “is all about power” and that her alliance with Skeletor is rooted entirely in that obsession, though she is equally “impressed when anyone else has power, which was a fun part to play.” That layered reading of a classic animated villain suggests the film may offer more nuance beneath its colorful, campy surface than some might expect.
Brie has also spoken warmly about the overwhelming nostalgia the project has stirred up, telling People that “people have been coming out of the woodwork” to reach out to her, and joking that it is “the most excited the men in my life have ever been about anything I’ve ever done.” That reaction speaks to just how deeply the original cartoon remains lodged in the cultural memory of an entire generation.
The live-action ‘Masters of the Universe’ has had a notoriously turbulent journey to the screen, bouncing between Sony and Netflix before finally landing at Amazon MGM Studios, with the previous live-action film having arrived all the way back in 1987. After nearly four decades of waiting, it seems the stars have aligned both on screen and on the late-night sofa. Whether you grew up defending Eternia or are coming to the story fresh, the debate over who steals the film, Brie’s eye-rolling Evil-Lyn or Leto’s theatrical Skeletor, is one worth having in the comments.
