Dir: Travis Knight, UK/US, 2026, 112 mins
Cast: Nicholas Galitzine, Alison Brie, Idris Elba, Jared Leto
Review by Matthew Morlai Kamara
Raised unaware of his royal heritage, Adam discovers the ancient Sword of Power and returns to a world now scarred and oppressed. He must embrace his destiny, transform into He-Man, and stand alongside loyal allies Teela, Man-At-Arms and Roboto to restore peace.
Leading the cast is Nicholas Galitzine (Red, White & Royal Blue, The Idea of You) as He-Man, with Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms, and Jared Leto as Skeletor. The sweeping score comes from Daniel Pembertonwith additional contributions from Queen’s legendary guitarist Brian May.
Visually this movie is pleasantly colourful, capturing both a modern grandeur and the nostalgic spirit of the 1980s franchise. I found the balances between action, and playful humour worked perfectly, while Skeletor’s sharp dialogue echoes the charm of the original. Fans will enjoy numerous easter eggs, a cameo, and extra scenes during the credits. That said, the story follows a traditional hero’s journey, offering few surprises, and the wealth of existing lore means some supporting characters feel underdeveloped.
This film doesn’t quite surpass the nostalgic affection many hold for the 1987 version. Although this is a visually impressive update that honours its roots, it stops short of having the true power of the Grayskull movies to become a better film overall.
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