Netflix Cancels Live Action He-Man Universe

In the past few years, there has been a remarkable surge in the streaming industry, with numerous companies competing for audience engagement in a market that is becoming more and more saturated. As fresh contenders enter the scene and challenge Netflix’s position of power, the competition has intensified, centering around crucial areas like pricing strategies, affordability, and the development of unique and captivating content that can captivate and maintain viewership.

Despite previous intentions to bring a live-action adaptation of Masters of the Universe to Netflix, the project has faced numerous setbacks. While the streaming platform had successfully produced multiple animated adaptations in recent years, the progress on the live-action film had been slow and uncertain. Although there seemed to be a glimmer of hope last year with the casting of Kyle Allen as He-Man, recent reports from Variety indicate that Netflix has ultimately decided to abandon the project, opting not to move forward with the anticipated reboot.

The Future of the Series on Netflix

Netflix has ventured into the captivating realm of Masters of the Universe through various animated endeavors. Notably, the sequel series Masters of the Universe: Revelation, helmed by Kevin Smith, made its debut in 2021 and is soon to be followed by the upcoming series Masters of the Universe: Revolution. Additionally, the animated adaptation of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe has captivated audiences with its three-season run on Netflix. Let’s not forget the successful spinoff series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, which enchanted viewers for an impressive five seasons. It is worth noting that these animated projects operated on significantly smaller budgets compared to the now-canceled live-action reboot.

According to a recent report, The screenwriter Amanda Deibert tweeted, “Y’all. I didn’t say it was canceled. There has been no renewal to my knowledge. That is all I know and I am really quite mad that this is being turned into a news story. I don’t know anything more than any of you and I am very unhappy with the tweets implicating I said more.”

At first glance, one might wonder why the seemingly straightforward task of creating a film centered around the enduring conflict between He-Man and Skeletor has encountered such obstacles along the way. Considering that a prosperous animated series was developed in the 1980s based solely on a handful of action figures, it appears perplexing. Furthermore, there have been subsequent animated adaptations featuring the characters, along with an extensive collection of DC Comics narratives that even involved crossovers with renowned DC superheroes, as well as the iconic Thundercats from the 80s.

Also Read: Netflix: Netflix: Masters of the Universe Will Handle the First Series Uncertain Storylines

Will There Ever Be a Masters of the Universe Movie?

According to a recent report, the movie had already incurred approximately $30 million in various development expenses. Additionally, an undisclosed amount had been allocated to secure the services of Kyle Allen, as well as directors Adam Nee and Aaron Nee. Taking everything into account, estimates suggest that the project’s total cost had reached close to $60 million by this stage.

Also Read: Kevin Smith Helming Masters of the Universe Follow Up Collection for Netflix

However, the film was ultimately scrapped by Netflix due to its rapidly increasing budget. Sources indicate that the budget would have exceeded $200 million, and despite having received initial approval, the Masters of the Universe reboot was scheduled to commence filming in February. However, these plans were abruptly halted when Netflix experienced a significant stock market decline, resulting in a reported loss of around $50 billion in value. The Variety report highlights that the company was unwilling to invest more than $150 million in the film, effectively ending the project. Nevertheless, the decision to cancel the film after $30 million had already been spent on early development costs came as quite a surprise.

Also Read: Fan Remakes Netflix He-Man Trailer With 1987 Masters Of The Universe Scenes, Goes Ultra-Viral

Source:  Movie Web