Masters Of The Universe: British star Nicholas Galitzine cast as He-Man in new movie

He's a muscle-bound blonde from Eternia battling to save the universe - and now a 29-year-old brunette actor from Hammersmith is about to bring him to the big screen.

Nicholas Galitzine - who's fresh from playing a boy band star who falls in love with an older woman in The Idea Of You - has been announced as the new He-Man in a live-action Masters Of The Universe film.

He-Man was first made into a live-action movie in 1987, starring Swedish action hero Dolph Lundgren in the lead role.

A fresh-faced Courtney Cox also appears in that 1980s version, playing Julie Winston, an orphaned teenager who helps He-Man save the universe from Skeletor.

The new film will be directed by Bumblebee filmmaker Travis Knight but plot details are currently being kept under wraps.

Its lead, Galitzine, has also starred in Amazon Studios movie Red, White And Royal Blue and Sky Atlantic period drama Mary And George, opposite Julianne Moore.

Julie Rapaport, head of film production and development at Amazon MGM Studios, said: "We're thrilled to bring the beloved Masters Of The Universe to life and couldn't be more excited to announce the immensely talented Nicholas Galitzine as our He-Man.

"Joining forces with director Travis Knight, Mattel, and Escape Artists, this reintroduction of the character and his universe will be an epic film that will delight audiences from here to Eternia."

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Toys taking over cinema

Mattel's Masters Of The Universe - who also included Sorceress, Evil-Lyn, Teela, Man At Arms and Beast Man - were first introduced to the world in 1982 through a line of popular action figures.

The animated series He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe followed in 1983, with its distinctive theme song proclaiming "I have the power!"

Toy company Mattel, which also makes Barbie, currently has 15 live-action films in active development following the juggernaut success of Greta Gerwig's Barbie film in 2023, which took more than $1bn (£784m) in box office sales worldwide.

They include films about Bob The Builder - produced by Jennifer Lopez; Polly Pocket - directed by Lena Durham; and Hot Wheels - produced by J J Abrams's production company Bad Robot.