For as long as I can remember, I have loved Masters of the Universe.

Like many children of the 1980s, Eternia was one of those magical places that existed where imagination came alive. He-Man wasn’t just a hero. He was the hero. Larger than life, impossibly good, and wielding a sword that promised that the ordinary could become extraordinary. So when Amazon MGM finally unleashed its long-awaited live-action Masters of the Universe, I walked into the theater carrying decades of nostalgia on my shoulders.

And hope. Luckily, this film understood the assignment.

Rather than attempting to reinvent the mythology, director Travis Knight delivers something that feels like a genuine love letter to the generations who grew up with these characters. The world of Eternia is vibrant, strange, and gloriously sincere. There is no embarrassment here. No cynical wink to the audience. The film embraces giant swords, cosmic destiny, and skull-faced villains with complete confidence in its own wonderfully camp sensibilities.

What surprised me most, however, was how deeply queer-coded the film feels.

No, this isn’t a story built around explicit romance, but the emotional DNA of the narrative feels rooted in themes that many queer viewers will instantly recognize: identity, chosen family, self-acceptance, and the struggle between who the world expects you to be and who you truly are. Prince Adam’s journey isn’t about becoming He-Man. It’s about embracing a truth that has always existed within him. His power isn’t his strength. It’s his heart. 

And it’s beautiful. Eternia should feel larger than life, and this cast makes sure it does.

Nicholas Galitzine plays Adam as a vulnerable young man in incredible pain at losing his entire world. While his rise to heroism was destined, it was also earned. Galitzine never plays the character as invincible. Instead, he allows Adam’s uncertainty and loneliness to sit alongside his courage, creating one of the most emotionally engaging versions of the character we’ve seen to date. Opposite him, Camila Mendes delivers a fantastic Teela, bringing strength, intelligence, and heart to every scene she occupies.

The supporting cast is equally impressive. Idris Elba was a wonderful Man-At-Arms, strong, dedicated, and broken. Jared Leto clearly understands that Skeletor works best when he’s allowed to be both terrifying and gloriously theatrical. Every sneer, every threat, every moment of scenery-chewing villainy feels perfectly calibrated. It’s difficult to imagine anyone else bringing this version of Skeletor to life quite so effectively. No one.

Longtime fans will also find plenty of nods to the franchise’s history. The film is packed with references to the original Filmation series and even includes several affectionate callbacks to the cult-classic 1987 film – including references to Karg and Gwildor. 

And then there is the mid-credits scene. I heard whispers. I saw the photos. But still I didn’t believe it until I saw her for myself. 

Adora. 

Portrayed by Lauren Saliu,Lauren Saliu, the moment serves as a tantalizing tease of what may come next. Should the series continue, fans may finally receive their first live-action glimpse of Etheria and its greatest champion.

In Netflix and DreamWorks’ 2018 reboot, She-Ra became one of the most prominent queer heroes in modern animation, culminating in a landmark same-sex romance that resonated with viewers around the world.

This isn’t new. Masters of the Universe has occupied a unique place in queer culture for decades. With his impossibly muscular physique, dramatic transformations, flamboyant fantasy world, and unapologetically theatrical villains, the character has long been embraced as a camp icon by many LGBTQ+ fans. Beneath the surface, Prince Adam’s story of concealing an essential part of himself from the world while struggling to reconcile his public identity with his private truth has resonated with generations of queer viewers. 

He has become a symbol of empowerment, self-acceptance, and the idea that true strength comes from embracing who you really are.

More than anything, Masters of the Universe succeeds because it remembers what made the franchise special in the first place. Beneath the muscles, monsters, and magic lies a story about hope. About becoming the person you’re meant to be. About finding strength in the people who stand beside you.

I experienced the film at TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku with one of my best friends in Japan, and as an added bonus, purchased an exclusive theatrical booklet filled with production artwork, character profiles, and behind-the-scenes material. It’s one of those uniquely Japanese cinema traditions that elevates a night at the movies into something special, allowing fans to take a small piece of Eternia home with them once the adventure is over.

It was a wonderful experience. And by the power of Grey Skull… I hope there’s a sequel! 

There will be more soon so… 

Stay Tuned!