Travis Knight’s take on Masters of the Universe — the toy brand that became an animated sword-and-sorcery adventure and cultural phenomenon in the ‘80s — is basically the hero’s journey on psychedelics. The adventures of Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine), aka He-Man, distills the wonder of Arthurian legend, pulpy sci-fi, and comic book fantasy in one ambitious swing. Though it’s hard not to think about Marvel movies like Thor or Guardians of the Galaxy when faced with its endless quips and stylized combat, He-Man was here first, and he reclaims his place as the ultimate action hero with infectious, earnest gusto.
That said, his latest live-action adventure also does well to remind us that Eternia is really just the beginning. He-Man might have done the impossible and unlocked the Power of Grayskull, but he won’t be the only warrior to achieve that feat if this franchise gets the chance to continue. Masters of the Universe is already looking ahead to the adventures we might see in future films; its post-credits scene even gives us a glimpse at another iconic hero. It’s the kind of tease that will surely stir up excitement for fans of another, more recent He-Man spinoff, and ideally set the stage for an even bigger sequel. Spoilers for Masters of the Universe ahead.
