Jared Leto’s Skeletor Is Toxic Masculinity Made Flesh, Says Director Travis Knight

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As a huge cinema fan, I’m really intrigued by Travis Knight’s take on Skeletor in the new Masters of the Universe movie. I recently read an interview with him in Empire, and he explained that Jared Leto’s portrayal isn’t just about making Skeletor frightening. He’s aiming to make him a symbol of truly harmful, old-fashioned ideas about what it means to be a man – a representation of toxic masculinity at its worst.

Jared reached out to us because he’s a big fan of Skeletor and has a personal connection to the character. He was ambitious and wanted to create something truly special, and we ultimately achieved that. According to Knight, Skeletor represents a lot of what’s harmful about traditional masculinity, as told to Empire magazine.

Knight pointed out that the original Skeletor cartoon character was both humorous and frightening, but also deeply insecure. The new movie builds on this idea, exploring how Skeletor’s desire for power stems from his own self-doubt and personal problems. This isn’t just a villain who’s evil for the sake of it; he’s a complex character whose controlling behavior masks his own weaknesses.

The director was firm about maintaining Skeletor’s classic appearance. According to Knight, he insisted, “There’s no changing the fact that Skeletor has a skull face. He’s a skull that lives, talks, and shows emotion, and that’s how it’s going to be.” This means fans can be assured Skeletor’s signature skull face will remain unchanged.

Jared Leto is famous for completely transforming himself for his roles, and he’s predicted to bring a powerful energy to this character. He’s currently finishing work on Tron: Ares and a film about Andy Warhol, where he’s involved both in front of and behind the camera. Audiences are eager to see his take on the complexities of masculinity as he portrays this well-known figure.

The movie Masters of the Universe stars Nicholas Galitzine as both Prince Adam and He-Man, and he worked hard to get in shape for the part. Camila Mendes plays the warrior Teela, with Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, and Kristen Wiig as Roboto rounding out the cast.

Unleash your inner strength! Check out the first look at the Masters of the Universe movie with the new teaser trailer, and experience the adventure in theaters on June 5th.

— Masters of the Universe (@mastersmovie) January 22, 2026

Prince Adam, originally sent to Earth, has been searching for his lost magical sword. After two decades, he finds it and must return to his home planet, Eternia, to defeat Skeletor, who has taken control. This large-scale fantasy action movie is highly anticipated and will be released in theaters on June 5, 2026.

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2026-02-07 11:45