Masters of the Universe: Revisiting the 1987 He-Man Film

Renowned special effects artist Richard Edlund, an Oscar winner for his contributions to Star Wars in 1978, found himself in a heated debate with Cannon Films co-owner Menahem Golan. Edlund argued that the initial estimate of 64 special effects shots for Cannon's Masters of the Universe, a live-action adaptation of Mattel's He-Man toys, was far too low and that the project would require almost twice as many. Golan, on the other hand, was furious, claiming the costs were draining the company's resources.

Edlund later reflected that Golan seemed to enjoy the negotiation process, though the latter was likely more focused on keeping Cannon Films solvent. The studio eventually collapsed, with Masters of the Universe becoming one of its final victims due to budget constraints. The film premiered on August 7, 1987, earning a modest $5 million in its opening weekend. Decades later, fans still argue whether the movie was a genuine effort to create a fantasy epic or a poorly timed attempt to capitalize on a toy line that was losing its appeal.

Executive producer Edward Pressman, who promoted the film in 1987, revealed that the He-Man craze started when Mattel executives viewed an early version of the 1982 film Conan the Barbarian, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Initially interested in licensing the movie for toys, Mattel was deterred by the excessive violence in the footage and decided against the deal. Instead, they opted to craft their own sword-and-sorcery adventure, complete with characters and conflicts tailored for younger audiences.

He-Man first appeared in 1982, offering a bulkier, more muscular alternative to the relatively smaller G.I. Joe. Sporting massive shoulders and a simple loincloth, He-Man stood against Skeletor's plans to dominate their home planet, Eternia. To expand the toy line, both characters were given a team of allies and an array of vehicles. Over 120 million action figures were sold, and a popular animated series kept kids hooked to their TVs.

A movie adaptation was an obvious move for Mattel. Leveraging their connection with Pressman, who had worked on Conan, the company approached studios to fund a high-budget film. While most studios balked at the estimated $40 million cost, Mattel opted for a more budget-friendly approach. Rather than setting the story entirely on Eternia, the plot shifted to modern-day Earth, where He-Man would search for a Cosmic Key to free the Sorceress, Eternia's protector, from Skeletor's grasp.

Pressman eventually caught Warner Bros.' attention with the revised concept. Warner offered $15 million, but Cannon, aiming to make a name with higher-budget projects like the Sylvester Stallone film Over the Top, upped the offer to $17.5 million. Mattel and Pressman accepted Cannon's proposal and moved forward with them.

Dolph Lundgren, a Swedish actor and athlete with a background in chemical engineering from MIT, had already made an impact in Hollywood as the formidable Ivan Drago in 1985's Rocky IV. While producers believed he was ideal for the role of He-Man, Lundgren himself had reservations.

"I spent months thinking it over," Lundgren shared with Starlog in 1987. "Masters is the kind of film that, if not done properly, could turn into a laughingstock for decades." After finally agreeing to the role, Lundgren bulked up further to closely resemble the iconic action figure.

Director Gary Goddard, who had previously managed a Conan stage production for Universal and was brought on by Pressman, considered Lundgren an ideal physical match for He-Man—despite his strong Swedish accent. Goddard toyed with the idea of dubbing Lundgren's voice during post-production, but such costly measures quickly became unfeasible.

One thing Goddard refused to compromise on was keeping the entire film set on Earth. The initial script began with a battered He-Man pleading for help from a suburban family. Goddard pushed for scenes on Eternia to frame the story, ensuring the fantasy roots were respected without breaking the budget. Sets were built to showcase Skeletor (Frank Langella) in a lavish throne room, commanding his minions and scheming against He-Man. Costlier effects, like a stop-motion Battlecat or a floating Orko, were scrapped to save money.

Originally scheduled for 13 weeks, the shoot stretched to 20. Lundgren, known for his amiable nature, found delivering lines challenging and spent his downtime lifting weights. Langella's prosthetic teeth caused constant issues, requiring frequent adjustments. Meanwhile, bounced checks from Cannon, struggling after a series of box office failures, became a recurring problem.

By the time Goddard filmed the final showdown between He-Man and Skeletor, the budget was so tight that the scene had to be shot on a minimal set in near darkness. (Mattel contributed the remaining $750,000 of their $1.5 million guarantee to keep production alive.) Goddard had envisioned the film as a homage to comic artist Jack Kirby's iconic space opera aesthetic, but in the end, he was simply relieved to finish the project.

The prolonged struggle to secure a studio for Masters of the Universe led to unfortunate timing. By its release on August 7, 1987, the toy line's popularity had significantly declined. Had the film debuted in 1985, the reaction from kids might have been far more enthusiastic. Instead, it was outperformed during its opening weekend by the Emilio Estevez comedy Stakeout.

Critical reception was lukewarm. Johanna Steinmetz of the Chicago Tribune stood out as one of the few reviewers who appreciated the filmmakers' dedication. "It doesn't break new ground," she noted, "but it's also unlikely to leave you demanding a refund, unless you're particularly bothered by Dolph Lundgren's occasionally hard-to-understand dialogue."

"Lundgren, a European actor known for his role as a Soviet boxer in Rocky IV opposite Sylvester Stallone, takes on the part of He-Man. While he excels at flexing his impressive muscles, he struggles with delivering more complex lines like 'I don't want innocent people to die'—prompting Skeletor to sarcastically reply, 'Well said, He-Man,' which drew scattered laughs from viewers."

Despite these challenges, Cannon, though nearing its end, remained optimistic. At the Cannes Film Festival that year, Golan revealed plans for Masters of the Universe 2, with surfer Laird Hamilton set to replace Lundgren as the lead. Sets were already being built, but when Mattel withdrew support, director Albert Pyun adapted them for a low-budget Jean-Claude Van Damme project titled Cyborg.

In recent years, toy-inspired movies have become a staple in Hollywood. Hasbro has seen massive success with franchises like Transformers and G.I. Joe. A reboot of He-Man has been in development for some time, though no official release date has been confirmed. In 2010, Lundgren voiced his interest in being part of the project, though he emphasized wanting greater involvement in designing his costume.

"I think it's a great concept," he shared with IGN. "He-Man is an iconic character, and I enjoyed portraying him. However, I’d prefer not to spend months shirtless, wearing that … loincloth or whatever it was. I’d rather take on the role of the king. But overall, it’s a solid idea."