By the power of Greyskull! It's been announced that Netflix and Mattel Television are producing an original CG animated series titled HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE! Framed as a brand companion for Netflix’s previously announced Mattel partnership on the 2D anime series MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: REVELATION from View Askewniverse mastermind Kevin Smith, the newly-announced series will present a fresh take on the 1980s toy-based franchise that introduced many children to the concepts of swords, sorcery, and heroism.
Here's the official synopsis for Netflix and Mattel's HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE:
On the planet of Eternia, a young lost prince discovers the powers of Grayskull and transforms into He-Man, Master of the Universe! The classic battle between He-Man and evil Skeletor rages to new heights as both hero and villain forge new and mighty teams. A new generation of heroes fighting for the fate of us all. In the end, who will become Master of the Universe?
Mattel Television will produce the series with Adam Bonnett (DESCENDANTS), Christopher Keenan (BATMAN BEYOND), and Rob David (MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: REVELATION, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES) acting as executive producers. Heading up animation on the series is House of Cool and CGCG, who for the past few years have produced stunning work while contributing to Guillermo del Toro's TROLLHUNTERS franchise.
According to Fred Soulie, Mattel’s Senior Vice President of Content Distribution and Business Development, HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE will strive to bring He-Man and his companions into a contemporary setting while also making an effort to appeal to old school fans of the character.
“Masters of the Universe is one of the most iconic global franchises of all time, with a 30-year history and a passionate fan base,” Soulie said. “The entire team at Mattel is excited to introduce the world of He-Man to a new generation and, together with the talented team at Netflix, to reimagine the classic characters in a way that appeals to kids and families today, while also resonating with the fans who grew up with them.”
In recent times, Netflix has experienced a tremendous amount of success with their He-Man-adjacent animated series SHE-RA AND THE PRINCESSES OF POWER. After making its Netflix debut on November 13, 2018, the female-focused series developed by comics wunderkind Noelle Stevenson has already enjoyed four seasons on the popular streaming network. It stands to reason that Netflix is keen to have She-Ra's twin brother, Prince Adam of Eternia, join the animated fray as soon as the show is polished and ready for action.
In addition to today's reveal, Netflix also shared a poster for HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, which you can check out for yourself below: