Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel’s live-action Masters of the Universe film has four new villains, Deadline has learned.
Jared Leto (House of Gucci) is confirmed for the role of Skeletor, having initially been linked to the project back in September. Others now aboard include Sam C. Wilson (House of the Dragon) as Trap Jaw, Hafthor Bjornsson (The Northman) as Goat Man, and Kojo Attah (In the Grey) as Tri-Klops.
The primary antagonist in the Masters of the Universe franchise, Skeletor is a powerful and cunning sorcerer, serving as the arch-nemesis of our hero, He-Man, played by the previously announced Nicholas Galitzine. One of Skeletor’s key henchmen, Trap Jaw is a recurring villain in the franchise, known for his cybernetic enhancements and versatile weaponry. Goat Man is a minor villain, known for his goat-like appearance and association with Skeletor’s forces, while Tri-Klops is one of Skeletor’s most resourceful and tech-savvy henchmen, a skilled swordsman who’s a master of surveillance and technology.
As previously reported, Alison Brie is on board for another villain role — that of Evil-Lyn. Also set to star is Idris Elba, who plays Duncan, Man-At-Arms.
Based on the iconic Mattel franchise, Masters of the Universe‘s plot is being kept under wraps. Travis Knight is directing from a script by Chris Butler. David Callaham and Aaron and Adam Nee worked on the initial draft. Previously in development at Sony and Netflix, the film is being produced by Escape Artists and Mattel Films for release exclusively in theaters worldwide on June 5, 2026.
Centered on the battle between the heroic He-Man — the universe’s most powerful man — and the evil Skeletor, the Masters of the Universe franchise was introduced by way of a line of popular action figures in 1982. A year later, the animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe premiered, becoming one of the first children’s programs to be syndicated on television during its two-season run. Several other film and television adaptations followed, and today the franchise continues to span such consumer touchpoints as toys and video games.
An Academy Award winner recently seen in Haunted Mansion, WeCrashed and House of Gucci, Leto plays the title role in Disney’s Tron: Ares, which is slated for release on October 10, 2025. In recent months, he’s also signed on to Kemp Powers’ Lunik Heist at Searchlight and entered talks to join Barry Levinson’s JFK thriller Assassination.
Wilson is best known for his work on television, having been seen on series including House of the Dragon, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, and Hanna.
An Icelandic strongman best known for his role of Gregor ‘The Mountain’ Clegane on HBO’s Game of Thrones, Bjornsson has also been seen in Robert Eggers’ The Northman and other projects.
Previously seen in films like Wrath of Man and The Beekeeper, as well as Netflix’s hit series Supacell, Attah’s upcoming slate includes roles in Guy Ritchie’s action drama In the Grey opposite Henry Cavill, Eiza González and Jake Gyllenhaal, as well as the whodunit Murder at the Embassy.
Leto is repped by WME; Wilson by Insight; Bjornsson by IceTalenta; and Attah by Felix de Wolfe.
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