Nicholas Galitzine and Camila Mendes Are Built for Eternia, and This ‘Masters of the Universe’ Behind-the-Scenes Gym Flex Proves It
Even after ‘Masters of the Universe‘ has hit theaters, the training content keeps coming. Camila Mendes took to her Instagram to share a batch of behind-the-scenes footage from the film, and one particular shot of her and co-star Nicholas Galitzine flexing together in a gym has fans fully obsessed.
Galitzine leads the film as Prince Adam/He-Man in the live-action reboot, while Mendes stars opposite him as Teela, the fierce Captain of the Guards of Eternia. To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with Teela and Duncan/Man-At-Arms, played by Idris Elba, and embrace his destiny as the most powerful man in the universe. Based on what that gym photo reveals, both leads clearly brought every bit of that warrior energy into real life.
Galitzine worked with celebrity personal trainer David Kingsbury for six months to bulk up and build muscle for the role, and his dedication impressed both fans and the film’s producers. Producer Jason Blumenthal made no secret of his admiration for the effort, stating that Galitzine “fully committed” and that his transformation was “100-percent real,” with no tricks or shortcuts involved, just old-school hard work.
Galitzine himself revealed on Fandango’s Big Ticket podcast that there were periods when he was fasting for 18 hours and then completing a three-hour weight-training session before stunt work, saying it “really tested my willpower.”
Mendes began her own preparations back in September 2024, months before filming started, and has spoken about how she and Galitzine bonded deeply through the shared training experience, learning about their bodies and nutrition together in what she described as a healthy and meaningful process. In an interview with Refinery29, Mendes reflected on spending months bulking up and training to achieve the physicality Teela demands, with strength conditioning, movement training, and combat choreography all central to her preparation.
Mendes called the physical preparation period the happiest time of her life, saying that all she was doing was going to work and getting to twirl a sword and bow staff around. That infectious enthusiasm is exactly what pours out of the behind-the-scenes clips she shared, including the now-viral double flex moment that has the internet in a chokehold.
The film, directed by Travis Knight and produced by Mattel Studios and Escape Artists, carries a budget of between 170 and 200 million dollars and runs for 141 minutes. It hit theaters on June 5, with Amazon MGM Studios handling domestic distribution and Sony Pictures Releasing taking care of international markets. The star-studded ensemble also includes Jared Leto as Skeletor, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, and Morena Baccarin as The Sorceress.
Early critical reception has been warmer than many expected, with reviewers at Screen Rant and Mashable calling it a genuine surprise, and the film earning an 87 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. If the Galitzine and Mendes gym selfie is any indication, the chemistry and commitment that made the movie work clearly did not stop rolling when the cameras did.
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