I'm being mocked in the MTV newsroom for my excitement over this news, but I don't care. He-Man is a badass, and not because his alter-ego -- Prince Adam -- is named like my name. That's not the only reason anyway. No. He-Man is a badass because he rides a Battle Cat and talks to his magical sword and still wins the day every time. He was also brought to life by Dolph Lundgren in the first movie adaptation of the Mattel toy line, and you just don't mess with that man.
Don't count on Lundgren coming back for the long-gestating second attempt at an adaptation, which has finally found a home with Sony, according to a report in Variety. Sony is partnered with Escape Artists, with the project being led by producers Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch, who intend to start "from scratch."
"He-Man" had previously been living at Warner Bros. since 2007 in the hands of producer Joel Silver, but Mattel took their property back when studio and rights-holder couldn't agree on a direction. "Kung Fu Panda" director John Stevenson was attached to direct the earlier version of the project, working off of a script from "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li" writer Justin Marks, which was later re-written by newcomer Evan Daugherty. Maybe Mattel's decision to move on is for the best.
There are no details given regarding Sony's/Escape Artists' plans for the film, other than the basic "He-Man" backstory. Variety writes: "The fantasy actioner will revolve around He-Man, a prince who becomes a warrior battling the evil Skeletor for control of his magical homeland." Nothing new, though if Mattel was willing to switch studios over a creative disagreement, I have to believe that someone out there has a strong idea of what a "He-Man" movie should be.
Are you ready for more He-Man? Can anything possibly top the Dolph Lundgren-starring 1987 classic, "Masters of the Universe"?
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