A new Masters of the Universe movie is being created, and it comes with both welcome and unwelcome changes. The franchise began as a series of Mattel toys in the early 1980s, and this toy line featured figures like He-Man, Man-at-Arms, Skeletor, and other beings that hailed from the land of Eternia. This toy group was instantly successful and led to the creation of a cartoon series тιтled He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, which ran from 1983 to 1987. Even more famously, a 1987 movie was made starring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man.
In more recent years, interest in the Masters of the Universe series has been renewed, partially by the creation of two Netflix animated shows set in this universe. While another live-action movie has been in development for years, it was announced in November 2023 that Amazon MGM Studios had secured rights, and in February 2024, it got a director. Now slated for release next year, the Masters of the Universe live-action film is helmed by Travis Knight and subsтιтutes Lundgren’s He-Man for Red, White, and Royal Blue star Nicholas Galitzine. However, there is one key casting option it is neglecting.
Dolph Lundgren Was Open To Playing King Randor In A New Masters Of The Universe Movie
He Said So In A 2012 Interview
Now 67 years old, Lundgren can no longer play the part of He-Man, so it makes sense that a younger actor is taking over in Masters of the Universe‘s new era. However, there were other ways for him to return that had already been brought up in the past. One such return idea would be to have Lundgren play King Randor, the King of Eternia, and the father of He-Man’s alter ego, Prince Adam. He thinks Adam will become king someday, and is initially not aware of his secret idenтιтy.
When the Masters of the Universe movie was in an earlier stage of development, Lungren was asked if he would return for the film. In a 2012 interview with IGN, Lundgren was asked whether he would consider coming back to play a role, potentially as the King. While it was clear that he had not been offered the role or anything like that, he said that it was a “good idea.” The actor also noted that he would not want to wear a loincloth again, and thus he would “rather play the King.” His full quote can be found below:
Interviewer: I have to ask you. They recently said in the news that a reboot of He-Man is going to happen. A live-action movie. I remember seeing that when I was 15 or 16. What are your thoughts on a new He-Man movie and if they said hey, do you want to play maybe the king, or something like that, would you be up for it?
Dolph Lundgren: Yeah. I think it’s a good idea. I thought He-Man was a cool character. I had fun doing it. I wouldn’t want to take my shirt off again for three months and wear the diapers or whatever it was I was wearing, loincloth. So I’d rather play the King. Superheroes are coming back, and I’m sure that’s one that people could enjoy.
It is important to note that Lundgren was responding to a pitch for a different version of the Masters of the Universe movie. Back in 2012, when he did this interview, the Masters of the Universe film was to be directed by Wicked director Jon M. Chu. The project later hired a new director as it spent time in development hell. As such, Lundgren’s King Randor response was about a different iteration of the story and also made when he was over a decade younger than he is now.
New Masters Of The Universe Movie Already Cast A Different Actor As King Randor
James Purefoy Will Play The Role
Despite Lundgren’s willingness to play King Randor, the new Masters of the Universe movie ended up casting James Purefoy. The actor is best known for playing roles in TV series like Rome and Hap and Leonard but is new to the Masters of the Universe series. There are several reasons that Amazon MGM Studios may have opted for this casting, including the fact that Purefoy is slightly (7 years) younger than Lundgren, which might make him look more appropriately like Galitzine’s father. The team might have also wanted the live-action movie to have a new feel.
Dolph Lundgren Playing King Randor In Masters Of The Universe Would’ve Been Awesome
It Would Have Been A Full Circle Moment
Though Purefoy still has the chance to prove himself in the King Randor role, it would have been great to see Lundgren play the part in Masters of the Universe. For one thing, it would have been a way to connect the franchise’s cinematic universe, which took a multi-decade hiatus. This would have been a great way to draw in returning audiences who were familiar with the toy franchise’s inception.
Other actors in the Masters of the Universe movie include Morena Baccarin, Alison Brie, Idris Elba, Jared Leto, and Camila Mendes.
King Randor specifically would have been a great part for Lundgren to play because it would have brought things full circle. As King Randor, he would have been playing his own former character’s father. This would have created an on-screen pᴀssing of the torch of sorts, which could have been a good way to honor the Masters of the Universe origins. Purefoy still has the chance to be great in the role, but the absence of Lundgren will be felt.
Source: IGN
