Now Is the Perfect Time for Netflix To Revive Its Best 2-Part Fantasy Saga

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Published May 30, 2026, 7:48 AM EDT

Jeffrey is a freelance features writer at Collider. He is an MPA-accredited entertainment journalist and a Tomatometer-approved critic based in the LA area. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Radio, TV, & Film and a Bachelor of Arts in Theater.

Masters of the Universe is about to return to theaters for the first time in almost 40 years with a new live-action movie. However, there's still an amazing iteration of the franchise that's yet to be formally concluded. Masters of the Universe received a two-part animated revival with Masters of the Universe: Revelation and its later sequel, Masters of the Universe: Revolution. The series was created by the incomparable Kevin Smith, with amazing animated visuals by Powerhouse Animation, the studio behind such shows as Netflix's Castlevania. Now, with a new adaptation on the horizon, it's the perfect time for Netflix to deliver an official ending for one of its best fantasy sagas.

'Masters of the Universe: Revelation' Expands the Franchise's Lore

Although initially controversial for some of its narrative decisions, Masters of the Universe: Revelation is a 10-episode series that delivers an incredible post-modern take on the Eternian saga, expanding upon the franchise's intricate mythology and referencing all its past iterations. Revelation also represents the culmination of the classic mini-comics packaged with the original action figures, the classic 1980s animated series produced by Filmation, the subsequent Mike Young Productions reboot in 2002, and the recent, more mature comics from DC and Dark Horse.

Revelation takes stock of all the past source material and remixes it into a brand-new, cohesive version that fleshes out iconic characters, including Skeletor (Mark Hamill), giving the indelible villain a proper backstory. It also establishes Subternia as Eternia's version of the Underworld, ruled over by Scare-Glow, excellently portrayed by the late great Tony Todd in one of his best roles. Meanwhile, the series depicts Preternia as a heavenly-like realm inhabited by the past champions of Eternia and He-Man's predecessors. It was a fantastic way to adapt concepts that have been part of the toyline's mythology for decades, organically integrating them into a wonderful animated adaptation.

'Masters of the Universe' Movie Officially Cancelled at Netflix

Kyle Allen was set to play He-Man in a production that had already spent millions in development costs.

Kevin Smith's Saga Deconstructs Iconic 'Masters of the Universe' Character Relationships

Revelation also interestingly deconstructs iconic characters and their long-established relationships in the Masters of the Universe saga, telling both a more mature story and offering a nuanced examination of the established mythos. The series begins with a shocking plot development, leaving Eternia in chaos. Teela's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) emotional arc depicts her as angry, jaded, and cynical, and Smith's plot strips away the would-be romance between He-Man (Chris Wood) and Teela, as well as Adam and Teela's longtime relationship. Teela feels betrayed that Adam never confided in her about his secret identity as He-Man, leaving her dejected. However, over the course of 10 episodes, the series explores He-Man's crucial purpose in Eternia and how much Adam and Teela truly mean to each other.

Additionally, the series finally addresses Teela's backstory as the long-lost daughter of the Sorceress (Susan Eisenberg), exploring how Teela must come to grips with her destiny as her mother's successor and lose her personal bonds with her friends and loved ones in the process. As for Skeletor and Evil-Lyn (Lena Headey), their toxic codependency is given more layers through the depiction of Evil-Lyn's more genuine side, as well as her corruption by Skeletor.

'Masters of the Universe: Revolution' Ends on a Jaw-Dropping Cliffhanger

The Master of the Universe: Revelation saga continued in 2024 with Masters of the Universe: Revolution, which raises the stakes as Hordak (Keith David) invades Eternia and brainwashes Skeletor using a technovirus. Despite an overwhelmingly positive reception that even surpassed the previous season's score on Rotten Tomatoes, there's been virtually no word about a follow-up to Revolution. The series also ends on a massive cliffhanger, with the reveal of an important character crucial to the Masters of the Universe franchise laying the groundwork for an epic and emotional third chapter.

The lack of a continuation is likely due to a complicated situation involving the Masters of the Universe media rights, as Smith himself explained during a November 2024 interview with AnyGoodFilms:

"So, our Season 3, I would assume, particularly if we are going in the direction of the story we were planning to tell, has everything to do whether two titans of media want to let each other play with their toys. ... So, longest short, out of my hands, and it's in the hands of folks far more powerful than [me]."

It would ultimately behoove Netflix and Mattel to work out the rights issues because the lack of a proper conclusion for this series is like leaving an incredible book series incomplete. Moreover, with a new big-budget live-action movie incoming, the overall franchise is about to earn a major boost in renewed popularity. This would be the perfect opportunity for Netflix to once again summon the power of Grayskull and give their Masters of the Universe series the epic revival it richly deserves.

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