Summary
The upcoming live-action adaptation ofMasters of the Universeis set to bring the 1980s franchise back to the big screen. Fans are thrilled about the casting, but one particular cast member raised eyebrows.
Masters of the Universehas undergone a complex development spanning several decades. Fox 2000 announced theHe-Manmovie in 2004. In 2009, Sony acquired the rights and enlisted Jon M. Chu to direct, but there was no development. In 2019, Noah Centimo was attached to play He-Man, but he exited the project in 2021. In 2022, Netflix took over the project and invested $30 million, but due to budget constraints, the streaming giant eventually decided to withdraw. In 2024,Amazon MGMStudios and Mattel Films announced a release date. Travis Knight was attached to direct and Nicholas Galitzine was cast for the lead role. The project has since made significant progress, especially in the casting department. However, many fans disapproved of one of its actors.
The official Instagram account ofMasters of the Universeshared a series of photos featuring the actors and their roles for the anticipated movie —Galitzine as He-Man, Camila Mendes as Teela, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Jared Leto as Skeletor, Idris Elba as Duncan/Man-At-Arms, Morena Baccarat as Sorceress, Sam C. Wilson as Trap Jaw, Johannes Haukur Johannesson as Fist, Kojo Attah as Tri-Klops, John Cue Zhang as Ram Man, Hafthor Bjornsson as Goat Man, Charlotte Riley as Queen Marlena, James Purefoy as King Randor, Sassier Zamata as Susie and Christian Vunipola as Hussein. The post received many responses, and several supported it, but they disapproved of Leto’s casting as Skeletor."[S]olid casting besides [J]ared [L]eto bruh,“one commented. Another added, “Stop putting Jared Leto in movies, specially as Skeletor. What a joke.”
Some shared the reasons why they do not like Leto. One said Leto “did a terrible job doing the Joker [and] thenMorbius.” So, the netizen wondered why the producers were still rooting for him by casting him in high-profile projects. Another fan of theMasters of the Universesaid Leto’s casting was “heartbreaking and utterly confusing.” However, the Instagram user wanted to give Leto the benefit of the doubt, saying, “I really hope I am wrong.” Some also suggested that Willem Dafoe would be a better choice for Skeletor. One said Leto as Skeletor was a “miscast” and Dafoe “would’ve been a way better choice.”
Leto is an American actor and musician. He plays diverse roles in films and television. However, his portrayal of Joker inSuicide Squadwasn’t well-received. Some felt that it was over the top. Additionally, there were also reports about his unconventional and intense method acting techniques, with some questioning his professionalism.Leto’sMorbiuswas heavily criticizedby the audience and only scored 15% from critics onRotten Tomatoes. However, the poor performance is not solely due to Leto; the weak storytelling, bad dialogue, rushed CGIs, and underwhelming plot are also to blame. The skepticism about Leto’s casting is understandable due to his previous controversial performances. However, he is dedicated to his roles, so he might bring a fresh perspective of Skeletor and surprise fans.
Masters of the Universewill be released in theaters worldwide on June 22, 2025.
