Masters of the Universeis one of the most hotly anticipated movies of 2026, and as the cast has filled out, it’s clearmany familiar characters will appear in the film that were not in the previous Dolph Lundgren moviefrom 1987. While1987’sMasters of the Universedrew inspiration from Marvel and DC, and the film looked to replicate many elements of the animated series before it, this was a complicated endeavor. With a limited budget and only so much access to special effects, some familiar characters had to be replaced.
ThenewMasters of the Universefilm details, from a production directed by Travis Knight,seem to be dedicated to bringing in as much of the franchise’s history as possible.Set photos fromMasters of the Universehave shown accurate costumes, and familiar faces and characters from the various animated series. Even characters with absurd names, such as Fisto, have been confirmed, suggesting that, rather than trying to modernize the series, the new film will do a great job recapturing its exciting animated tone. The inclusion of these names helps attest to this.
10Trap Jaw
The Villain Will Be Played By Sam C. Wilson
Trap Jaw has appeared in various incarnations of He-Man stories, but the character was replaced by a new character namedKarg in the original Dolph Lundgren film. With a limited budget,it was easier for the film to build a character of its ownrather than replicate the curious, green-skinned weapons expert Kronis,otherwise known as Trap Jaw.
Fortunately, Trap Jaw will play a role in the newMasters of the Universe, where he will be portrayed by the actor Sam C. Wilson.Wilson has appeared in episodes ofHouse of the Dragonand played Bill Sikes in the 2022 Charles Dickens adaptationDodger. There has been no word on what Trap Jaw’s role in the new film will be, but it is likely he will be a part of the Evil Warriors and will serve under Jared Leto’s Skeletor.
9King Randor
James Purefoy Will Play Prince Adam’s Father
King Randor has had a few different roles throughout the different He-Man series, buthe is generally the ruler of Eternia and the father of Prince Adam.In addition to this, he is also the half-brother to Keldor, who becomes the villainous Skeletor. In a rather strange move, Randor did not appear in the 1987 film, even though the character’s kingship is an important part of the story of Eternia.
In different projects, Randor has been depicted in different ways, withlater iterations, including 2002’sHe-Man and the Masters of the Universe, turning him into a much more formidable warrior king.James Purefoy will play the role of Randor in 2026’sMasters of the Universe.It is unclear if his iteration will be a fighting hero, or a stately ruler, or perhaps both. Either way, the character is expected to play a role of some importance.
8Queen Marlena
Charlotte Riley Will Play He-Man’s Mother From Earth
Marlena is an important figure in the originalMasters of the Universeseries,usually depicted as a former astronaut from Earth who has come to Eternia.There, she marries King Randor, and the two sire an heir to the throne in Prince Adam. With such an interesting backstory to pull from, including ties to Earth, Marlena’s story has an interesting significance that looks likely to be explored in the new film.
Played by Charlotte Riley, known for her roles in films likeLondon is FallenandEdge of Tomorrow, it looks as though Marlena’s role may have a major impact in the newMasters of the Universe. The firstset photos fromMasters of the Universeshow thatat least part of the new film will take place on Earth,making Adam’s mother and her heritage that much more important to the story.
7Fisto
Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson Will Play Malcolm
Fisto is an important character in He-Man’s lore, and he has gone through several changes between some of the cartoons. It is unclear how much of each story will be adapted, butMalcolm originally began as a villain, working in the service of Skeletor, before being convinced to change sides by He-Man.He becomes a gruff fighter and a hero, possessing a giant fist that is usually covered in a metal gauntlet, which he uses to fight.
Jóhannesson has appeared in some big projects over the years, having made appearances inGame of Thronesand this year’sCaptain America: Brave New World.
Fisto may be the biological father ofCamila Mendes' Teela, another important character in the film, although it may also be Duncan. It is unclear if this parentage issue will be examined in the new film, butthere is great potential for complex storytelling with these excellent characters.Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, star ofVikings: Valhalla, will play Fisto in the new film, and promises to bring a compelling and frightening ferocity to the character.
6Tri-Klops
Kojo Attah Will Play The Villain
Tri-Klops is an interesting villain in He-Man’s history, and will appear in the new film.Equipped with an incredible rotating visor that allows him different abilities, including night vision and the ability to see through objects, Tri-Klops is a follower of Skeletor. An excellent sword fighter, the villain may play an exciting role in the new film, contributing to some of the most interesting action sequences.
Kojo Attah, who recently appeared inJason Statham’sThe Beekeeperand the seriesSupacell, will play the villain in the new film. While Tri-Klops is not a major figure in He-Man stories,he is an interesting thug with powers that could be fun to examine in the new film.Seeing how his visor works in an updated live-action film is an interesting and compelling prospect to explore.
5Ram-Man
The Hero Will Be Played By Jon Xue Zhang
Ram-Man is an unusual hero in the lore ofMasters of the Universe,originally described as “the human battering ram.“In the comics, Filmation series, and Netflix series, it seemed that there was disagreement about what to do with the character. While in some appearances he is depicted as very large, in others he is shown to be small and dwarfish. It is unclear which iteration will be used in the new film.
Still, Ram-Man is an exciting inclusion.Played by Jon Xue Zhang, one of many excellent stunt performers cast in the film, the actor looks like he will bring an excellent physical presence to the role. Ram-Man is unlikely to play a large part inMasters of the Universe, but his inclusion is very exciting.
4Goat-Man
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Will Play The Villain
Goat-Man, sometimes written as Goatman, is not a major character in the history ofMasters of the Universe. Introduced as a minor villain in 1985 in the bookSecret of the Dragon’s Egg,the character did not wind up appearing in animation until much later, in 2021.Like Andros, Goat-Man is usually depicted as a member of the G’hoat people and is big and violent.
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson might be best known for his incredible fight sequence alongsidePedro Pascal inGame of Thrones, but the actor has proven himself as a professional strongman.Standing at 6 ft, 9 in, with an incredible, muscular build,Björnsson is likely to play into at least one excellent battle sequence in the new film. Using his size, the villain should be memorable here.
3Moss Man
Stephen Adentan Will Play The Hero
Moss Man has had a difficult time in the He-Man continuity. Firstintroduced in 1985, the character did not have enough time to make a major impactbefore the original series came to a close.His entrance into various other animated iterations along the way wound up the same way, with the character only getting a small role in each series. This is disappointing because Moss Man and his ability to change into plants could create some incredible visuals.
Fortunately, the heroic character will appear in the newMasters of the Universe, where he will be played by Stephen Adentan.While the character is unlikely to play an enormous part in the film, it will be exciting to see him and his incredible powers captured in live-action.However he is used, it is about time that Moss Man finally got a chance to shine within the world of Eternia, and hopefully the film can turn him into something memorable.
2Mekanek
James Wilkinson Will Play The Hero
One of thesmartest characters inMasters of the Universe, Mekanek promises to be an interesting addition to the cast of the new film. Another member of the Heroic Warriors,Mekanek was originally developed under the name Spy Man, and has a periscopic neck that extends to great distances. He is often seen alongside the aforementioned Ram-Man, and his powers could be an interesting visual to create in the upcoming film.
Mekanek will be played by James Wilkinson, a performer with very little on his resume. Still, it is notable thatthe actor stands above 6 ft 6 in,bringing another very large and formidable presence to the world of Eternia. Seeing how this winds up looking and feeling in the final film is very curious, and Mekanek could play an essential part in some exciting sequences.
1Battle Cat
Cringer’s Role In This Film Has Not Been Officially Announced
Battle Cat is arguably the most important character that did not appear in the 1987 film, being He-Man’s warrior beast that fights alongside him in battle. Whilethe character has not been announced in any news for the film,it was reported by many attendees that theCinemaCon footage forMasters of the Universecontained a look at concept art for the character. While anything could change throughout production, with the film’s dedication to capturing Eternia accurately, it seems all but assured that Cringer will appear in the new film.
The character will likely be a CGI creation, and the performance behind the character may only use cat sounds, as in some depictions. However, notably, in the original iteration and some of the cartoons that followed, Battle Cat did speak. If this is the case,it is possible that a voice actor for the character will be added later in post-production.It is unclear what iteration of the character will appear in the newMasters of the Universe, but however he is presented on screen, seeing Cringer is an exciting prospect for longtime fans of the property.
