For fans who grew up racing home to watch He-Man and the Masters of the Universe after school, Masters of the Universe is shaping up to be exactly the kind of big-screen event they’ve been waiting for—and according to the cast and creative team, that nostalgia was never far from mind. During the film’s virtual press conference, the stars and filmmakers behind Amazon MGM Studios’ ambitious live-action adaptation opened up about honoring the beloved franchise while delivering a fresh theatrical adventure for a new generation.

Director Travis Knight made it clear this project was deeply personal from the start. Having grown up playing with the toys, reading the comics, and watching the original animated series, Knight reflected on the surreal experience of finally bringing the world of Eternia to life. “We’ve been working on this thing for a long time,” Knight shared, describing the emotional moment of seeing Nicholas Galitzine perform He-Man’s iconic transformation scene for the first time.

For Galitzine, stepping into the role of Prince Adam—and ultimately He-Man—was about far more than physical transformation. While much attention has been placed on his preparation for the character’s larger-than-life appearance, the actor emphasized that the emotional journey was equally important. Galitzine described Adam as someone who has spent much of his life being dismissed and doubted, making his eventual rise into heroism feel earned rather than inevitable.

The actor also reflected on how surreal the experience felt personally, recalling that as a young British actor visiting Los Angeles years ago, he would walk past the TCL Chinese Theatre dreaming of one day having a film premiere there. This week, that dream became reality.

Camila Mendes offered insight into Teela’s role in the story, explaining that the character is far more than simply a warrior at Adam’s side. As the daughter of Duncan/Man-at-Arms, Teela enters the story as a capable leader, someone already grounded in strength and discipline. Mendes explained that while Adam is still discovering who he is, Teela becomes one of the forces helping push him toward his destiny—while also navigating her own emotional complexity.

Idris Elba, who plays Duncan, revealed that his performance was heavily shaped by conversations about fatherhood with Knight. Rather than portraying the character solely as a battle-hardened warrior, Elba leaned into Duncan’s emotional history, describing him as a father carrying deep loss beneath his tough exterior. That emotional grounding appears to be one of the film’s strongest anchors.

Alison Brie also teased what fans can expect from Evil-Lyn, highlighting the complicated and often darkly funny relationship between her character and Jared Leto’s Skeletor. Rather than playing Evil-Lyn as a straightforward villain, Brie described a character whose loyalty and resentment toward Skeletor constantly collide, creating one of the film’s most unpredictable dynamics.

Meanwhile, Morena Baccarin admitted this project tapped directly into her own childhood fandom. The actress, who plays The Sorceress, revealed she grew up playing with He-Man and She-Ra toys alongside her brother, making the experience of walking onto the Castle Grayskull set especially emotional.

That sense of scale became a recurring theme throughout the conversation. The cast repeatedly praised the practical sets, costumes, and immersive production design, with several actors noting that Masters of the Universe rarely felt like a typical green-screen blockbuster. Galitzine called the experience incredibly immersive, while Baccarin shared that stepping into Castle Grayskull genuinely felt like entering the world she imagined as a child.

For producers Todd Black and Jason Blumenthal, bringing Masters of the Universe to theaters was always the goal. The producers revealed the project had been in development for nearly two decades, with multiple attempts to bring the franchise to the screen before finally coming together with Knight at the helm. They emphasized that this adaptation was designed as a true theatrical event—something meant to be experienced with an audience, not simply watched at home.

Knight also pulled back the curtain on one of the film’s most unexpected creative touches: its music. The director revealed that the score was inspired in part by the operatic energy of 1980’s Flash Gordon, leading to an unforgettable collaboration with composer Daniel Pemberton—and even Queen guitarist Brian May, who contributed guitar solos to the score.

If the cast’s enthusiasm is any indication, Masters of the Universe isn’t just aiming to cash in on nostalgia—it wants to deliver the kind of epic fantasy spectacle that feels tailor-made for the big screen.

Masters of the Universe opens exclusively in theaters worldwide on June 5.