Mattel’s live-action “Master of the Universe” film, based on the He-Man toy, has been in development hell for years, changing studios three times in five years. Sony had distribution rights for years (even had a March 5, 2021 film on the calendar at one point), with Noah Centineo in the lead. Then it was Netflix with Kyle Allen (Spielberg’s “West Side Story”) in the lead role, and that went nowhere. Then, last fall, Netflix abandoned development, and Amazon MGM Studio picked up the distribution mantle. Now, the latest studio may have a director in Travis Knight, known for his LAIKA work, but also the “Transformers” film, “Bumblebee.”
Deadline reports that while Knight has not officially signed on to the long-in-development picture, and other elements are still in play, he’s the top choice who is circling the film.
Chris Butler will rewrite the script from an initial draft written by David Callaham and Aaron & Adam Nee, the writers of “Lost City.” Butler is known for LAIKA films that Knight directed or produced, like “ParaNorman” (2012), “Missing Link” (2019), and “Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016).
Amazon MGM Studios is in final negotiations for rights to the project, with Mattel’s Robbie Brenner and Escape Artists’ Todd Black and Jason Blumenthal producing.
In the film world, “Masters of the Universe” is probably best remembered from the dicey-at-best 1987 film starring Dolph Lundgren, but it’s been in development for years and years going far back as 2004 with John Woo. There have probably been a dozen-plus versions since then that went nowhere (some talent involved over the years include David Goyer, Joel Silver, Jeff Wadlow, Christ Yost, McG, the Nee Brothers, and more)
Netflix had more success in the animated world, releasing “Masters of the Universe: Revelation” in 2021 and then “Masters of the Universe: Revolution,” which premiered in January of this year. Let’s see if they can actually get this one up and running.
