Summary
- Dolph Lundgren’s portrayal of He-Man in the 1987 live-action movie has gained a cult following due to his physicality and presence.
- Lundgren jokingly suggests that he would consider returning as an older version of He-Man, but only if his costume were more substantial.
- The Masters of the Universe franchise has faced numerous setbacks in rebooting the character, but the upcoming film helmed by Amazon/MGM could be its best chance yet.
Dolph Lundgren is known for many iconic tough-guy roles, and he continues to deliver his particular brand of muscleman action in his latest movie, Wanted Man. However, there is one role that everyone remembers, whether it is because of the film’s cheesy 80s vibes or the leading man’s lack of clothing. That is the role of He-Man, which he played in the 1987 live-action Masters of the Universe movie. But with a new He-Man movie still bouncing around in development hell, could the mighty Swede return to the franchise? According to Lundgren, it would all depend on one thing; extra clothes.
Lundgren’s connection to the Masters of the Universe franchise goes beyond just his role in the 1987 film. The movie, despite its mixed critical reception at the time, has since gained a cult following, with Lundgren’s portrayal of He-Man being a significant part of its enduring appeal. His physicality and presence brought the iconic character to life, creating a memorable image of the hero from Eternia, even if its tight budget and story change from the well-known toy line and cartoon series made it a disappointment for many.
In a recent conversation with ComicBook.com, Lundgren was asked whether he would consider pulling out his sword one more time, and his reply was perhaps not entirely serious – but did pose an intriguing possibility. He said:
[An] Older He-Man? I don’t know. As long as… my costume can be a little more substantial. It was about the size of a stamp, in those days. I think I’d just have to add a few layers of costume.
Although the idea of Lundgren getting dressed up in his skimpy costume and shouting “By the Power of Greyskull” once more may seem like a laughable idea, Lundgren raising the idea of an older version of his character would certainly be an interesting one, and one that has never been broached on screen before. However, for anything remotely Masters of the Universe to happen with or without Lundgren’s involvement, someone has to be willing to take a risk to finally bring the hero of Eternia out of his seemingly unending stream of misfires.
Related: Why a Live-Action Masters of the Universe Reboot Film Hasn’t Been Made
What Has Happened to the Masters of the Universe Reboot?
The Cannon Group, Inc.
The Masters of the Universe franchise has been desperately attempting to get a new take on He-Man off the ground for several years now. In November last year, reports emerged that Amazon/MGM was considering a new live-action movie version, taking over from the defunct Netflix version that fell apart a few months earlier after seeming to finally be moving forward. The project is rumored to be helmed by Adam and Aaron Nee, directors of The Lost City, with a script penned by a team including Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Dave Callaham, David S. Goyer, known for his work on The Dark Knight among other things, and Matt Holloway who worked on movies including Uncharted and Iron Man. Unlike the 1987 movie, this time around the film appears to be bringing the focus back on Prince Adam and the world of Eternia as fans know it from the animated series and numerous comic book outings, with the battle between He-Man and Skeletor once again being a main part of the story.
Whether MGM, with the backing of Amazon Studios, can finally get the project off the ground, but it looks like this is the best chance the film has had so far. Although it is unlikely that Dolph Lundgren will be sparring with Skeletor again, as an old He-Man or any other version, there will hopefully be a place for a small cameo in the movie for him, all in the name of nostalgia.
For those who can’t wait for a He-Man fix, Kevin Smith’s animated reboot of the Eternian’s story continues in Masters of the Universe: Revolution, which comes to the platform later this month. Check out the trailer for that below.
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