Netflix's upcoming Kevin Smith project Masters of the Universe: Revelation is going to be the He-Man version of Game of Thrones. This really should come as no surprise since the classic 1980's cartoon of the same name featured family drama, epic rivalries, magic, and otherworldly beasts all wrapped into a digestible pill for kids hyped up on NERDS and Now and Laters. But this new offering will be a bit different.
Masters of the Universe is a beloved television show from an era when cartoons were marketing tools used to sell products to children (or better yet, their parents). From The Transformers to G.I. Joe and even Jem and the Holograms, there was excitement in being able to recreate your own adventures as a kid with a mini-replica of your favorite television character. He-Man, like Superman before him, presented the same amount of escapism for children of that era. And although he was given a film adaptation in 1987, titled Masters of the Universe, the movie was critically panned and made only $17 million worldwide against a $22 million budget. The franchise has been revived in different animated iterations over the past few decades, but now the new anime proves to be something different.
According to ComicBook.com, Smith plans on taking the series in a brand new direction. And one of the ways he intends on doing that is by leaning into the darker elements of the He-Man storyline. This is where the Game of Thrones' influence comes in because, according to Smith, the popular HBO series ushered in a new era by inviting new fans along who had probably never read a fantasy book before their extended vacation in Westeros. In this vein, Smith is determined to create a similar world, minus the "nudity and dragons."
Smith also credits chief content officer for Netflix Ted Sarantos as the guiding light behind his decision to take the Masters of the Universe project seriously. Because of its history as one of the premiere fantasy franchises of the past few decades, there needs to be a certain amount of care used to bring He-Man's story to life. "That was part of the thrill of being able to do this job," Smith said, "Being handed a world full of IP like Mattel's Masters of the Universe line and then being able to go hog wild, and telling a grown-up story."
Although Netflix has yet to announce a release date for Masters of the Universe: Revelation, the roster of voice talent attached includes Thrones alumni Lena Headey (Evil-Lyn) and Liam Cunningham (Man-At-Arms). It also stars Sarah Michelle Gellar as Teela and legendary Star Wars actor Mark Hamill voicing Skeletor. As for who will be voicing Prince Adam and He-Man, that honor goes to Supergirl's Chris Wood.
Picking up where the show left off almost forty years ago could prove quite risky if done incorrectly — especially when taking into consideration the multiple attempts to revive the franchise over the years. Still, with a talented voice cast and an imaginative filmmaker like Smith at the helm Masters of the Universe: Revelation may have the power to make fans tune in and catch up with some old friends.
Source: ComicBook.com
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