He-Man Returns

Columbia Pictures has hired the screenwriters behind Predators, Mike Finch and Alex Litvak, for Masters of the Universe, it’s feature adaptation of ’80s warrior hero He-Man.


No details have yet been released on the plot or whether this incarnation will be live-action or animated, however the film will focus on Prince Adam and his ability to transform into the sword-wielding hero He-Man (”By the power of Grayskull!”) to battle his arch nemesis Skeletor.

According to THR’s Heat Vision blog, the biggest challenge in pitching their take was finding a story that makes the fantasy world of Eternia appear cinematic to the studio while still receiving story approval from Mattel, who owns the rights and has proven to be difficult to please.  The Mattel property was previously set up at Warner Bros, but ultimately fell apart after years in development due to creative differences over the vision.  Who do you think should be He-Man?  My vote is for Jared Padalecki or Jason Lewis.  Leave your suggestions in the comments.

This included Grayskull, a Lord of the Rings style epic confrontation of good and evil written by Justin Marks, as well as several other drafts from different screenwriters.  John Stevenson (Kung Fu Panda) was set to bring the live-action story to the screen before Warner Bros put the project in turnaround.  Columbia picked it up in September 2009.
Apart from Fox’s Predators sequel, Finch and Litvak sold Medieval for $800,000 (against $1.6M) last year, which courted directors McG and Rob Cohen before falling through.

I grew up a HUGE fan of He-Man and even watched Shera after it was revealed as his long lost sister.  Many of you may remember the Masters Of The Universe film that was released in 1987.  The live action film starred Dolph Lundgren as the warrior He-Man and co-starred Chelsea Field and a young Courtney Cox, along with the woman who ended up laying Courtney's mother on Friends, Christina Pickles as Sorceress.

Im excited with the talk of this becoming a new Lord Of The Rings, a movie franchise that never got my attention.  If they plan on making Eternia a new world and a whole new franchise, sign me up.