Masters of the Universe hits theaters this week as a Box Office underdog, faced with huge competition, but has already thrilled long-time fans and pleased a majority of critics, currently sitting at Rotten Tomatoes at a solid 71 % (critics) respectively 89 % (audience). Part of the movie's appeal comes from director Travis Knight knowing and understanding the vast lore to the core and serving the viewer amazing Easter Eggs, cameos, and references which draw from all different kind of versions of the Masters of the Universe - a franchise that has never been consistent from the start and been interpreted freely in many series and movies. Knight proves with his work that he appreciates all these attempts by including many throwbacks to some of their finest details and moments. We have already covered some of these bits in the last few articles, but below, you can check out a full list and some new details. Beware of SPOILERS!
Dolph Lundgren passes on the sword
Martial artist and Action legend Dolph Lundgren famously played protagonist He-Man in the ill-received 1987 movie Masters of the Universe. While the flick fought problems like a low budget and a wooden script, it also featured many beloved and iconic-turned performances, including Lundgren's earnest and physically impressive take on the blond superhero legend. For the 2026 remake, Lundgren appears in a small but crucial cameo - as the actor has already confirmed a few days ago - giving the new He-Man Actor Nicholas Galitzine advice in a gym and saying the 1987's movie Eternian catchphrase "Good journey", accompanied by the according gesture with two fingers, as he leaves.
A missing iconic villain actually not missing at all
As the trailers and promotion had the character list of the reboot's heroes and villains grow, many fans were pointing out missing favorites, one of the most famous being the original cartoon's Mer-Man, King of the Seas and one of Skeletor's more competent and intelligent henchmen. As we reported, Knight has revealed not too long ago that indeed the character appears as a blink-and-miss cameo in the background in the finished movie after all (for example in the post credit scene with Orko). Additionally, we see the character's likeness in a mosaic presenting a map on the Palace ground in the movie's opening scenes.
THESE post credit scenes and two cameos for one ethereal location
Inevitably with the movie now showing in theaters, post credits scenes have already leaked and fans get treated to a first look of a character who made it never to the screen before. Knight makes sure that, if thanks to the movie's risky budget and release date gamble, a sequel might not be in the cards, fans will still have been treated to something they have been demanding for a very long time: finally seeing He-Man's twin sister who had her own very successful series and even a feature length cinematic movie back in the day, in a live action version. While the brief scene sadly only shows She-Ra from behind, we do hear her get addressed with her real persona as Adora, Prince Adam's twin sister, and her title Force Captain, clearly indicating that a potential sequel to Knight's reboot will keep She-Ra's origins from the 1985 cartoon in which she was kidnapped by the Evil Horde and taken to Etheria, serving them until Adam freed her from the Horde's brainwashing. In the original version, She-Ra henceforth stayed on Etheria and tried to free it from the Horde, though He-Man and her often reunited in crossover episodes of the two original cartoon series. The Horde resided in the so-called Fright Zone, an impressive, terrifying building sporting huge spider-like towers, and the movie's adaption of it in front of which we meet She-Ra, looks like it's taken straight from the cartoon. This indicates that if we meet She-Ra in a sequel, she will indeed be residing on Etheria, a sister planet to Eternia. Attentive viewers also will notice that it's not the first time the Fright Zone is mentioned in the 2026 movie: It's also the name of the comic shop on Earth in which Adam finds his long lost Sword of Power.
The origin of an origin
Speaking of the comic shop scene, there's more than one awesome reference to be found in it. 10 year old Adam loses the Sword of Power on his journey to Earth that the Sorceress sends him on to escape Skeletor's attack on Eternia. That loss forces him to acclimate to his mother's home planet for 15 years. When he rediscovers it, it's attached to a statue in a comic shop which depicts the likeness of Conan the Barbarian - a character the original character of He-Man was largely based on when Mattel launched the toy line in the late 1980's.
Earth as the point of return
Many fans complained at the first looks of the movie that the story would again, like the 1987 predecessor, be partly set on Earth, which was one of the major letdowns of said first adaption attempt. Not only does Knight transfer this - fairly short - story arc from a once-necessary budget cut tool into a necessary saving point for the main character and the hope for the future Eternia though. It is also simply another canon accurate throwback, as Adam's mother, Marlena Glenn, originally comes from Earth and it makes perfectly sense for her to send her child to safety there.
What's up?
One of the first famous internet memes back in the day came in the shape of a video that poked fun at the original He-Man cartoon's cheap animation and partly queer-coded outfits. Knights earns many laughs and respectful nods in his 2026 Masters of the Universe adaption when the very 4 Non Blondes-song What’s Up starts to play once Adam finally has his sword back and is promptly attacked by one of Skeletor's most terrifying henchmen, Beast Man, on Earth. When a director knows his lore down to the oldest meme, he's done his homework!
Skeletor high in the sky
As mentioned, Amazon MGM has raised some concerns about the movie's ill-fated release date and high budget, but the studio refused to back down in the face of low box office predictions and on the contrary launched a huge marketing campaign. It not only featured several premiers across the globe, huge sand castles in the shape of the Sorceress' residence, Castle Grayskull, being built, and lots new toy lines and merchandise. Knight also set a new Guinness World Record with a light show above L.A.'s Hollywood Forever Cemetery created by 1600 drones, displaying the likeness of Skeletor, He-Man, the Sword of Power and more. As it turns out, this awesome show was not only purely a marketing gag, as the movie also features a scene with Jared Leto's Skeletor magically appearing as a huge figure in the sky over Eternia to speak to its people - which in itself is another loving throwback to the 1987 and a very similar speech in it.
Original costumes and a secret no longer being one
As the movie pokes fun at itself over and over again, which is just fine for fans of a lore that never took itself too seriously - but very well managed to be when needed -, Knight also makes very sure to present cartoon purists with a scene taken straight from the original He-Man and the Masters of the Universe show. After the last battle when the heroes have won, we see them reassembled in the rebuilt royal palace six months later. In this shot, all the fighters and characters featured wear costumes almost identical to their cartoon versions, including a short skirt instead of pants on Teela (Camila Mendes), Queen Marlena's formal hairstyle, Adam's iconic pink vest and more. Additionally, the characters strike their iconic laughing pose from the original cartoon which is sure to take the audience back to Saturday morning TV entertainment. Last but not least the scene ends with Adam running off to change into He-Man in secret like in the 1980's cartoon although his secret identity in this version never is one (many adaptions of the original series quickly dropped that part of the lore), and the characters have a good laugh about that, too.
Not only an end credit
Immediately following said ending is the first post credit scene featuring Orko, a character many fans have sorely missed from the promotion material, and he comes in a very special shape - as the narrator of the moral lesson that once was iconic for the original He-Man- and She-Ra cartoons. While people often dismiss these PSAs as corny and preachy, they often contained helpful and important lessons for the young audience like CSA warnings, bullying victim advice and more.
Iconic lines, name drops and tunes
More throwbacks to the original cartoon include He-Man uttering his famous line from the original intro "I am Adam, Prince of Eternia and defender of the secrets of Castle Grayskull." as he enters Snake Mountain with his comrades. The original intro's music is also worked into the soundtrack of the movie's last scenes and is sure to leave the audience with chills. Lastly, Zodac, the Cosmic Enforcer, is being mentioned and referenced to as the God-like being the original cartoon presented him as.
The problem with power
One of the original cartoon's arguably best and highest rated episodes is called The problem with power. It features Skeletor tricking He-Man into giving up his powers and sword for a short time, making him think he accidentally killed a man - by the victim getting caught under falling rocks after He-Man smashes some structure. As the 2026 features a major death of a well-established character, long-time fans will notice that said victim dies the very same way, and it has at least as much impact on the current version of He-Man as back then. The love Knight shows for long-forgotten gems in every detail does not fail to amaze.
Have you seen the movie yet? Which other details, references and Easter Eggs have you spotted? Let us know in the comments!
In Masters of the Universe, Director Travis Knight brings the legendary franchise back to the big screen in this epic live-action adventure. After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) back to Eternia, where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto).
To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.
The supporting cast includes Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Morena Baccarin as The Sorceress, James Purefoy as King Randor, Charlotte Riley as Queen Marlena, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Fisto, Kojo Attah as Tri-Klops, Sam C. Wilson as Trap Jaw, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson as Goat Man, Jon Xue Zhang as Ram-Man, Stephen Adentan as Moss Man, James Wilkinson as Mekaneck, and Kristen Wiig as Roboto.
Masters of the Universe opens in UK cinemas on June 3, and arrives in the U.S. on June 5.