Idris Elba is in final negotiations to star as “Duncan” in the upcoming live-action feature film Masters of the Universe, based on the iconic Mattel franchise. Elba will star alongside Nicholas Galitzine who is playing the role of “He-Man,” Camila Mendes who is playing the role of “Teela,” and Alison Brie who is playing the role of “Evil Lyn.”
Travis Knight is directing the film from a screenplay by Chris Butler (initial draft written by David Callaham, and Aaron and Adam Nee). Plot details are being kept under wraps for the film, which will be released exclusively in theaters worldwide on June 5, 2026.
Masters of the Universe will be produced by Escape Artists and Mattel Films.
Idris Elba is an award-winning actor, producer, director, and musician continually securing his place as one of the most versatile performers in Hollywood. In 2016, he became the first male actor to receive dual SAG awards in one evening – Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role and Outstanding Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries. Most recently, Elba can be seen starring as Knuckles in the Knuckles animated television series, which was released in April 2024 by Paramount+ and set the record as the most watched Paramount+ original series of all time. In 2023, Elba starred in the hit Apple TV+ thriller Hijack, for which he received a Best Actor Emmy nomination. Hijack, which Elba also serves as executive producer on, is currently in production for Season 2. Next up, Idris will be seen in Paramount’s Sonic 3 releasing on December 20, 2024, and the Amazon MGM Studios action-comedy Heads of State where he will star opposite John Cena and Priyanka Chopra. He will also be seen starring in the survival thriller Above the Below, which he also co-directed with Martin Owen. Elba’s career skyrocketed on the small screen in some of the U.K.’s top-rated shows. Soon after, Elba landed the role of Stringer Bell in HBO’s critically acclaimed series The Wire, which garnered an NAACP Image Award nomination. In 2010, Elba landed the title role on the BBC mini-series Luther, earning him a Golden Globe Award, SAG Award, and four Primetime Emmy Award nominations. In 2005, Elba began his film career with the Golden Globe-nominated projects American Gangster, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, and Beasts of No Nation, which also received a SAG Award. He also starred in The Mountain Between Us, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Avengers: Infinity War, and the Oscar-nominated film Molly’s Game. Elba has also loaned his voice in such projects as The Jungle Book, Finding Dory, Zootopia, which grossed over $600 million worldwide, and the Oscar winning short The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. In 2019, he starred opposite Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham in the hit action film Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. Other credits include Netflix’s Concrete Cowboy, Warner Bros.’ The Suicide Squad, Netflix’s The Harder They Fall,Three Thousand Years of Longing, Universal’s Beast, and Luther: The Fallen Sun. In 2024, Elba launched 22Summers, a full service production company. Its first project launched was the four-part docuseries Erased: WWII Heroes of Color for National Geographic. Elba is represented by Artist Partnership, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole, and The Lede Company.
Mattel’s Masters of the Universe was first introduced to the world in 1982 through a line of popular action figures. In 1983, the treasured animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe premiered and became one of the first children’s programs to be syndicated on television. From inception, the MOTU brand was built upon the message of becoming the best version of oneself and today, the franchise spans a variety of consumer touchpoints across toys, television, video games, and more.
Mattel Films’ vision is to collaborate with leading filmmakers to make standout quality movies based on our iconic brands that will resonate in culture and appeal to global audiences.
Dan Kleiner