Masters of the Universe marks Mattel’s next major venture in the movie business, following Barbie, which stars Jared Leto in the role of Skeletor, the arch-nemesis of He-Man, played by Nicholas Galitzine. Speaking of the character and Leto, director Travis Knight lauded the actor’s approach, which he claimed serves as the embodimentof toxic masculinity, which seems on brand for the villain (via Empire).
Skeletor was a really interesting villain. He looked cool. He was scary. He was funny. He was insecure. And then of course he had this distinctive voice. I wanted someone to craft their own version of that. Jared approached us, because he loves Skeletor and has his own history with the character. He wanted to swing for the fences. And ultimately we landed on something that I’m really happy with. Skeletor’s kind of the embodiment of toxic masculinity
Although it remains to be seen how the iconic villain translates to the big screen, going by the design alone, they have undoubtedly done an impressive job bringing the character to life.
Who is Skeletor in Masters of the Universe?
Similar to He-Man, who embodies the extreme, cartoonish archetype of heroism, Skeletor is notable for being an equally extreme, cartoonish representation of villainy. Even though it was the toy line that pushed them to popularity, the original cartoon from the ’80s, which remains a cornerstone for many childhoods of that era, made it a cultural landmark.
And like He-Man, Skeletor remains an iconic character, despite being subject to retcons. While he was initially portrayed as an alien invader who was adamant about conquering Eternia, he was later reshaped as a villain with a tragic origin, whose disfigurement contributed to anger issues and his villainous motivations.
Although many of his abilities rely on cartoon logic, this doesn’t take away from his influence and impact, and it won’t be a stretch to deem him one of the most iconic villains in pop culture.
Can Masters of the Universe Turn Jared Leto’s Box Office Around
To put it bluntly, Leto hasn’t enjoyed a great run at the box office in recent years. The underwhelming reception of movies like Morbius, Haunted Mansion, and his passion project, Tron: Ares, has fueled the perception surrounding his lack of big-screen appeal.
A still from Tron: Ares | Credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Coming back to He-Man and its box office prospects, while the brand identity and childhood nostalgia do make it Leto’s best shot at box office redemption, there are still plenty of caveats to consider. First of all, in the currently shifting landscapes, brand recognition alone doesn’t guarantee success, especially for an IP that peaked decades ago.
Moreover, the movie’s release window possesses another major challenge, as it will debut in one of the most stacked summers of this decade so far. June alone boasts releases like Toy Story 5, Supergirl, and Steven Spielberg’s UFO movie, Disclosure Day. Despite being Leto’s best shot at turning his box office streak around, it doesn’t appear the movie is on track to repeat the success of Mattel’s previous attempt at big-screen glory with Barbie.
Share your thoughts on Leto’s Skeletor below!
Masters of the Universe releases on June 5, 2026.
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