Masters of the Universe star Camila Mendes reflects on joining the cast of her biggest movie yet and praises her fellow co-stars. Based on the Mattel franchise of the same name, the upcoming Masters of the Universe reboot is the second live-action film adaptation of the He-Man character, following 1987’s much-maligned iteration starring Dolph Lundgren. The new project was in development hell for years before Amazon MGM Studios bought the rights and is scheduled for a June 2026 release. Mendes will play Teela, marking her biggest feature film project yet.
In an interview with ScreenRant at SXSW for her new movie Idiotka, Mendes reflected on joining the cast of the upcoming blockbuster and gushed at the talent of the Masters of the Universe cast. While sharing her thoughts on the entire experience, the actor also mentioned she’s working on the film now, and took a small break for the SXSW festival. Check out Mendes’ comments below:
It’s pretty crazy. I’m pinching myself every day, and I’m just so excited to be surrounded by such an incredible cast of people that I’ve looked up to. So yeah, I’m stoked. I’m on a tiny little break [from filming] to do SXSW.
What These Comments Mean For Masters Of The Universe
The Cast Could Elevate The Film To Success
Masters of the Universe is a movie that has been almost four decades in the making, and expectations will be high, especially with a production budget reportedly totaling around $200 million. Directed by Travis Knight from a screenplay by Chris Butler, Masters of the Universe boasts a strong cast of seasoned experts alongside up-and-comers like Mendes. The impressiveness of the cast could go a long way toward helping elevate the movie to long-term success, both theatrically and on streaming platforms.
Historically, the Masters of the Universe franchise has performed well with animated projects, but live-action has proven a different prospect, with the 1987 movie critically mauled and earning just $17 million worldwide. Hopes will be much higher this time around, and early details sound promising. In addition to Mendes, Masters of the Universe stars Nicholas Galitzine, Jared Leto, Alison Brie, Idris Elba, and Morena Baccarin. Beyond that, its June release date positions Masters of the Universe to be a summer tentpole, suggesting the live-action reboot could become a success.
Our Take On The Masters Of The Universe Reboot
While the film’s chances of a successful box office run could go either way, the cast and their chemistry with each other could be key in winning viewers over, and Mendes’ comments suggest they have built a strong rapport throughout the production so far. Masters of the Universe is a movie that needs to have a lot going right for it, and if it can capture the essence of what makes the He-Man franchise popular while appealing to a contemporary audience, there is a good bet it can turn a profit theatrically and excel on streaming.
