Feb 04 2009

Casting the Masters of the Universe Movie

Published by Madison at 9:30 am under Movies, News, Uncategorized

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Apparently the Masters of the Universe movie is out of developmental purgatory and moving forward.  Warner Bros. has selected John Stevenson (Kung Fu Panda) to direct the film, which begs the question: will this be animated or live action?  I’m hoping it’s live action, but we all remember what happened the last time He-Man was adapted for the big screen.  Assuming it’s not animated, I’ve cast actors and actresses in the roles of Eternia’s bravest warriors and most evil beings:

Ryan Kwanten as He-Man

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Ryan Kwanten is one of the best things about True Blood, and he’s got the look to play He-Man.  He’s already pretty jacked, so beefing up for the role wouldn’t be too difficult.  If this Australian actor can play a hillbilly, he shouldn’t have too much trouble playing the Prince of Eternia.  He-Man was the hardest out of all the Masters of the Universe characters to cast - there aren’t a lot of blonde actors, and there’s even fewer actors who are actually built.  Ryan would make a great He-Man, and he’s not too rough around the edges to portray He-Man’s gentler side.

Jessica Biel as Teela

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Maybe it’s just me, but Jessica Biel looks exactly what I think a real-life Teela would look like.  She’s gorgeous, athletic, and she showed in Blade III that she can handle weapons and fighting scenes just fine.

Brendan Gleeson as Man-at-Arms

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For Man-at-Arms, I needed an actor who could be convincing as both a rugged tough guy and old enough to be Teela’s father.  Gleeson was terrific in the killer-as-mentor role in In Bruges, so if you slap some weapons, armor, and a big mustache on him, I think you’ve got yourself a great Man-at-arms.

Mickey Rourke as Ram Man

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Big, bad Mickey Rourke would be perfect as the dimwitted, hulking warrior with a heart of gold.  Rourke doesn’t need to convince anyone that he can play a bad ass, and his performance in The Wrestler showed us that he can emote pretty damn well, too.  Rourke’s battered and worn look would only add to Ram Man’s character.

Dwayne Johnson as Stratos

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Stratos is strong and graceful, and many depictions of the Avionian make his “race” seem ambiguous.  Dwayne Johnson, since he’s left the wrestling ring, is no longer an enormous animal, but a slimmed-down, athletic looking actor who would be perfect gliding through the skies of Eternia.  Plus, I’d love to see the Rock get away from the Disney kids’ stuff and back into some real action.

Frank Langella as Skeletor

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What, you don’t think the guy who played Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon would make a good Skeletor?  Well, he played Skeletor in the first movie, but everything about that character sucked.  Of course, I wouldn’t cast Langella if I thought it was the actor’s fault; Skeletor was terrible because the makeup, writing, and surrounding actors were atrocious.  Let’s give Langella another shot at playing a great, evil character.  After his Academy Award Nomination for Best Actor, I’m sure he’d drop everything.

Anne Hathaway as Evil-Lyn

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Evil-Lyn is the most deceitful and easily the most intelligent of Skeletor’s minions, and she could probably command Skeletor’s forces better than Skeletor himself.  Anne Hathaway has the looks to play the seductive Evil-Lyn, but more importantly, she’s shown that she can really shine in a role where she isn’t the good girl.

Ron Perlman as Beast Man

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I thought this one was obvious.  Forget Hellboy, Ron Perlman was born to play Beast Man.

Gary Oldman as Trap Jaw

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Trap Jaw - with a good script - would definitely have one of the most interesting backstories, so a versatile character actor like Oldman would be ideal to play the biomechanical menace.  Oldman has played a wide range of bizarre characters, such as Mason Verger, Drexl Spivey, and Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg, so I’m sure with Trap Jaw, Oldman would turn in a memorable performance and breathe life into his character.

Andy Serkis as Mer-Man

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Serkis’ most famous roles involve him never actually appearing on screen (King Kong and Gollum (and yes, I know he appears briefly as Smeagol)), and that’s because his ability to move like a creature from another world is unmatched.  Whether you want to smother him in makeup and latex or attach motion-capture balls to his body and make Mer-Man a computer animated character, Serkis would be the best at creating eerily natural movements for this underwater killer.

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15 Responses to “Casting the Masters of the Universe Movie”

  1. Nicolaason 04 Feb 2009 at 10:59 am

    ok, i dont agree with all the ideas, but seriously… this Ryan guy is way to small to play He-Man!

  2. MantisMKEon 04 Feb 2009 at 4:27 pm

    YES! Big name actors and a story line that channels the best of “Lord of the Rings” style “Lord of Evil - Skeletor” vs. a smaller yet determined band of good guys led by He - Man and make it realistic, dark and dirty… would do justice to this most beloved of 80’s cartoons/action figures. I still have Castle Greyskull and all my figures… and I just turned 30…

  3. IVAN ZUBIĆon 04 Feb 2009 at 5:02 pm

    I THINK THAT I AM ONLY MAN ON EARTH THAT CAN BE HE-MAN I NEW MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE MOVIE. I AM A BIG FAN I AND KNOW HOW TOO PLAY THIS ROLE

  4. Robyn Robotronon 04 Feb 2009 at 8:59 pm

    MantisMKE: Skeletor is an insurgent, trying to gain power in a world where He-Man’s parents are still in charge. The whole, band of good heroes rebelling against an oppressive force is the premise of She-Ra, which is one of the things which makes her slightly more badass.

    And Jessica Alba may look like Teela, but she isn’t worthy to wear the cobra headdress and everyone knows it.

    (This is probably the most nerdy comment I’ve ever left, and I’m somewhat proud about that.)

  5. […] I was searching for pics for my Casting The Masters of the Universe article, I came across some pretty amusing cosplay pics.  As is always the case with cosplay, some of the […]

  6. […] Read the original:  Unreality - Casting the Masters of the Universe Movie | […]

  7. J.Purifoyon 29 Jun 2009 at 12:59 pm

    Some of those aren’t half bad, but I think Vanessa Lengies (Stick It) should play Teela, and David Keith should play Man-At-Arms.

    Also:

    Clamp Champ-Darius McCrary (Family Matters)

    King Randor-Jeff Bridges

    The Sorceress-Mariska Hargitay

    Buzz-Off-Orlando Bloom

    Skeletor-Willem Dafoe

    If in the sequels, the She-Ra series is introduced:

    Adora-Hayden Panettiere

    She-Ra-Estella Warren

    Hordak-Peter Stormare

  8. Madisonon 29 Jun 2009 at 2:23 pm

    @ J. Purifoy

    I think your Dafoe as Skeletor call is pretty good, but Stormare as Hordak? Brilliant.

  9. ericon 05 Jul 2009 at 5:31 am

    i think dolph lundrgen was the perfect looking he-man and the closest one now would have to be brad pitt cause he did really good in troy and bulking up would be hard for him and he’d be a good prince adam

  10. CESARon 27 Jul 2009 at 3:48 am

    HOW ABOUT “HHH”, AS HE-MAN EVERY BODY……..

  11. Madisonon 27 Jul 2009 at 12:24 pm

    @ CESAR

    HHH might look the part, sort of, but he’s not very likeable. I think that hurts his case.

  12. orlisnjangelon 27 Jul 2009 at 3:39 pm

    what about Manny-Faces??..okay..that’s just because my brother is crying about him in the background..but really??

  13. Madisonon 27 Jul 2009 at 3:44 pm

    @orlisnjangel

    You mean Man-E-Faces? I guess it could be anyone, what with all his different faces…but how about Crispin Glover?

  14. Chrison 15 Aug 2009 at 5:56 am

    “And Jessica Alba may look like Teela, but she isn’t worthy to wear the cobra headdress and everyone knows it.”

    You mean Jessica Biel? That was the OP’s suggestion, which is pretty spot on.

  15. Robert Cassidy (Acting Agent)on 11 Sep 2009 at 9:45 pm

    Talks of missouri filmmaker Terrance Davis of (Columbia Missouri) to audition for the role of Stratos in new Masters Of The Universe film. He has been featured in two indie films. “Norman” and “Farewell to Us”

    Good Luck!

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