He-Man heads to Prime Video after 47-day theater run
Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel’s Masters of the Universe will begin streaming on Prime Video on Wednesday, July 22, according to Deadline.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
Masters of the Universe is moving from the multiplex to the couch this week.
Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel’s live-action take on the 1980s toy and animated TV property will start streaming on Prime Video on Wednesday, July 22, according to Deadline. The move gives the Travis Knight-directed film a 47-day window between its theatrical release and streaming debut, the outlet reported.
The fantasy adventure stars Nicholas Galitzine, known to Prime Video viewers from Red, White & Royal Blue, as Prince Adam and He-Man, according to Deadline. The film’s cast also includes Jared Leto as Skeletor, Camila Mendes as Teela and Idris Elba as Duncan, also known as Man-At-Arms.
Deadline described the story as picking up after Adam has been cut off from Eternia, his cosmic kingdom, for 15 years. The Sword of Power brings him back into the fight, where Skeletor is waiting and Adam must team with Teela and Duncan to protect his family and his world.
The film arrived with plenty of brand muscle behind it, but its theatrical numbers were limited compared with its reported cost. Deadline reported a $170 million production budget, a $29.4 million domestic opening, a $64.6 million domestic finish and $113.3 million worldwide.
The outlet also reported that audiences gave the movie a B CinemaScore, while critics had it at 67% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Deadline noted that the production aimed to improve on the earlier live-action feature based on the Mattel property, the 1987 film starring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor.
The new Masters of the Universe spent 18 years in development with Escape Artists, according to Deadline. Knight, whose credits include directing features outside the franchise, ultimately steered this version for Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel.
Deadline reported that the screenplay is credited to Chris Butler, Aaron Nee, Adam Nee and Dave Callaham, from a story by Aaron Nee, Adam Nee, Alex Litvak and Michael Finch. Producers listed by the outlet are Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Robbie Brenner and DeVon Franklin.
For Prime Video, the streaming arrival gives subscribers a quick chance to catch Galitzine’s Prince Adam trading palace exile for sword-swinging destiny. For Mattel’s long-running brand, it is the next stop for a franchise that has been moving across toy aisles, animation and live action since its 1980s launch, as Deadline noted.
This story draws on original reporting from Deadline.