He-Man Is Coming Back – ‘Masters of the Universe’ Gets Official Prime Video Release Date
Amazon MGM Studios, and Mattel are bringing ‘Masters of the Universe’ to streaming much sooner than many fans expected. The live-action He-Man adventure will officially arrive on Prime Video on Wednesday, July 22, giving audiences the chance to watch the film at home just 47 days after its theatrical debut.
The news comes as the movie completes a relatively short journey from theaters to streaming. While the film was designed as a major revival of the iconic franchise, its box office performance did not reach the level Amazon MGM, and Mattel likely hoped for. According to box office tracking reports, ‘Masters of the Universe’ earned around $29.4 million during its domestic opening weekend before finishing with approximately $64.6 million in North America and $113.3 million worldwide.
The film carried a reported production budget of around $170 million, making its theatrical results a disappointment despite the popularity of the He-Man brand. Audience reactions were mixed, with the movie receiving a B CinemaScore, while critics gave it a 67% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Even with those numbers, the project represented a major attempt to bring the classic property back to the big screen. The movie had been in development for nearly two decades, with producers working for around 18 years to create a new version of the world first introduced through Mattel’s famous toy line and the animated series that became a pop culture hit in the 1980s.
The new film also aimed to surpass the previous live action adaptation, 1987’s ‘Masters of the Universe,’ which starred Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor. This time, Amazon MGM and Mattel built the movie around a younger cast and a larger fantasy adventure designed to introduce Eternia to a new generation.
Nicholas Galitzine, known for Prime Video’s ‘Red, White & Royal Blue,’ takes on the role of Prince Adam, the hero who eventually becomes He-Man. The story follows Adam after he has spent 15 years separated from his home world of Eternia. When the legendary Sword of Power leads him back to his kingdom, he discovers that his family and his world are facing a dangerous threat from Skeletor, played by Jared Leto.
To stop Skeletor and protect Eternia, Adam must reconnect with allies, including Teela, played by Camila Mendes, and Duncan, also known as Man-At-Arms, played by Idris Elba. The journey forces Adam to accept his true identity and become He-Man, the legendary warrior known as the most powerful man in the universe.
The screenplay was written by Chris Butler, Aaron Nee, Adam Nee, and Dave Callaham, based on a story developed by Aaron Nee, Adam Nee, Alex Litvak, and Michael Finch. The movie was produced by Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Robbie Brenner, and DeVon Franklin.
Are you excited to watch 'Masters of the Universe' on Prime Video?
With its Prime Video release, ‘Masters of the Universe’ now has a second chance to find its audience. Streaming could allow more fans, especially those who grew up with He-Man or younger viewers discovering the franchise for the first time, to experience the new version of Eternia from home.
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