Earth-Shattering Casting: He-Man’s Parents Revealed in Live-Action Film!

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As a devoted movie enthusiast, I’ve just learned that the live-action adaptation of He-Man and Masters of the Universe has found its King Randor and Queen Marlena. This exciting news comes after we got our first glimpse of Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man and Camila Mendes as Teela in a sneak peek behind the scenes, and with the casting already confirmed for the Sorceress and Fisto.

Who is playing King Randor and Queen Marlena?

According to THR, James Purefoy takes on the role of King Randor, who is the father of Prince Adam/He-Man, while Charlotte Riley portrays Queen Marlena, He-Man’s mother.

James Purefoy has made a name for himself with an extensive array of characters such as those from Rome, Pennyworth, Hap and Leonard, John Carter, Solomon Kane, and many others.

Charlotte Riley is known for Edge of Tomorrow, Smoggie Queens, Dark Heart, Press, and more.

Who is King Randor?

King Randor, the wise and honorable ruler of Eternia, is also Prince Adam’s father. While unbeknownst to him, his son secretly transforms into He-Man. Known for his courage and fairness, Randor takes his responsibilities as a king seriously, working tirelessly to safeguard his realm from the malevolent forces of Skeletor. Despite viewing Adam as somewhat reckless and carefree, he still takes pride in his son’s potential. A seasoned military leader with a history as a Captain of the Guard, Randor commands respect not only among his subjects but also among allies due to his proven leadership and battle-tested knowledge.

Who is Queen Marlena?

Queen Marlena, a compassionate and intelligent leader, hails from Eternia where she’s the beloved queen, wife of King Randor, and mother to Prince Adam (He-Man) and Princess Adora (She-Ra). Originally known as Marlena Glenn, an astronaut from Earth, she arrived on Eternia after a crash landing and eventually became Queen Randor’s spouse. Her Earthly background provides her with a distinct viewpoint when it comes to Eternian matters, often making her the voice of reason and wisdom in the royal court. Although she harbors suspicions about Prince Adam’s secret identity as He-Man, she values his decisions and stands by him unwaveringly. Queen Marlena is widely admired for her elegance, diplomatic skills, and relentless commitment to her family and kingdom.

He-Man is half-human?

Yep, He-Man is half-human as Queen Marlena is from Earth, which also means She-Ra is half-human.

In two episodes of the original He-Man cartoon, there are connections to Earth: “Rainbow Warrior” where Queen Marlena hints at her origins on Earth, and “Visitors From Earth.” However, it seems that aside from the 1987 Masters of the Universe film, the animated series didn’t delve into actual events on Earth. I also don’t recall the He-Man movie mentioning Queen Marlena’s Earth background.

How does it fit with the new Masters of the Universe movie?

The idea that follows might be just speculation, but the synopsis for Masters of the Universe suggests it takes place on Earth. It appears there could be a twist where instead of Marlena arriving on Eternia after crashing, He-Man may end up on Earth (or both). This new version seems quite similar to Superman’s origin story. Interestingly enough, it was claimed that DC Comics initially gave Marlena a human background as a way to explain potential crossovers between He-Man and Superman. Personally, I’ve always preferred the idea of He-Man and Eternia existing independently.

It’s worth noting that recent trade reports have stopped mentioning this plot detail, leading one to wonder if it has been abandoned (fingers crossed). Galitzine has stated their film will be “very different,” which is definitely a cause for concern.

Possible Masters of the Universe plot:

10-year-old Prince Adam, who arrived on Earth in a spaceship and lost his magical Power Sword – the only connection to his planet Eternia. After nearly two decades, he managed to locate his missing sword, leading him back into space. Here, he’s tasked with protecting Eternia from the malevolent forces of Skeletor. However, in order to vanquish such a formidable foe, Prince Adam must first unravel the secrets of his past and transform into He-Man – the mightiest man in the cosmos!

Who stars?

In this production, Nicholas Galitzine takes on the roles of both Prince Adam and He-Man, while Camila Mendes portrays Teela. Idris Elba is cast as Man-At-Arms, with Jared Leto stepping into Skeletor’s shoes. Alison Brie plays Evil-Lyn, Sam C. Wilson takes on the role of Trap Jaw, and Kojo Attah portrays Tri-Klops. Hafthor Bjornsson will be Goat Man in this version, and Morena Baccarin is set to play Sorceress. Lastly, Johannes Haukur Johannesson has been cast as Fisto.

Release info

The film titled “Masters of the Universe” is slated for release on June 5, 2026. It will be helmed by director Travis Knight. Chris Buttler has written the script, with an early draft penned by David Callaham and Aaron Nee, and Adam Nee.

(note: featured image of Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man is fan art)

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2025-02-12 05:32