Jun 02, 2026 6:32pm IST
Travis Knight on His Epic Masters of the Universe Adaptation: ‘I Was Delighted to Hear India Is a Nation of He-Man Fans’ (EXCLUSIVE)
For every 1980s and ’90s kid, the world of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was a great escape. Castle Grayskull, evil Skeletor, goofy Orco and a universe that deals with bad vs good. Its big-screen adaptation starring Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man and Jared Leto as Skeleor, releases in India on June 5.
In a chat with Variety India, director Travis Knight speaks about bringing this cinematic universe to life and why the film has such a huge following in India and world over. Excerpts from the chat.
Why do you think it has taken so long for a Masters of the Universe movie to come together finally?
It’s a good question, and honestly, I don’t have a definitive answer. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is a challenging property to adapt because it has such a unique tone. It was weird, larger than life, a little deranged in the best way, and yet somehow sublime. I loved it as a kid because it was unlike anything else. The challenge is finding the balance between honoring what made it special and creating a modern cinematic version that feels authentic. My producers, Jason and Todd, have been trying to get this movie made for 18 years. Sometimes, it just takes the right combination of people and circumstances. When I came aboard, I knew exactly what kind of movie I wanted to make. Fortunately, the producers, cast, crew and studio were completely aligned. We all wanted to make the same movie, and I feel very lucky that everything came together.
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What would you like to say to Indian fans of He-Man?
I was eight years old when I discovered He-Man. I played with the toys, read the comics and watched the cartoons. It was a huge part of my childhood. I know the character has meant a lot to people across multiple generations over the last 40 years. What I’ve only recently started to appreciate is how far that fandom extends around the world. In some countries, there’s very little awareness of He-Man, so I was delighted to learn that India has such a passionate fan base. I think we’ve got a real treat in store for audiences there.
Skeletor is one of pop culture’s most iconic villains. How did you approach bringing him to life?
Skeletor was incredibly important to get right. He’s one of the most iconic villains of the 1980s and certainly the defining villain of the He-Man franchise. What made him so memorable was that he was funny, scary, visually striking and deeply insecure all at once. He had that unmistakable voice and laugh, but it was his vulnerability that often made him entertaining.
One of the first conversations I had with Jared, who plays Skeletor, was about the voice. Alan Oppenheimer’s original performance is legendary, but we didn’t want to do an impression. We wanted to honor the character while creating something new.
Jared spent a long time finding that balance. The result is a version of Skeletor that has his own distinctive voice, theatricality and a sense of showmanship. There’s also a surprising vulnerability to him at times. And the laugh is fantastic. It’s uniquely Jared’s take on the character, and I’m thrilled with where we landed.
Is there a prop from the film that you wished you could take home?
The Sword of Power is the obvious answer, but there are so many incredible props in this movie. Our prop master, Steve Morris, and the entire team poured so much passion into every detail. There’s Teela’s iconic staff, all of Man-At-Arms’ gadgets and Skeletor’s Havoc Staff. You’d be spoiled for choice.
I have to admit, though, that I actually do have a Sword of Power at home. Amazon and the producers very generously gave me one, and it’s one of my most prized possessions. But don’t tell anyone.
Was it important for you to include fan-favorite character Orko in the film?
Absolutely. I know how beloved that character is and has been for generations of fans. We definitely had to find a way to get him into the movie. So I’m very glad that he exists in the film.
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