Masters of the Universe (2021) He-Man Anime Series (Drops Jan 2024) (Revolution)
- Thread starter fonzerrillii
- Start date
If it's better than the 2002 version, then I'm all in.
The last Thundercats remake had so much potential but the writing was suspect at times.
The last Thundercats remake had so much potential but the writing was suspect at times.
I thought the live action movie was good. I havent seen it since I was an adult but it was good...imo
Shameful,how the 2002 version was cancelled just because it wasnt selling enough toys...
What movie is this from?
Maybe if they had the same freedom as Voltron with these planned out storylines it could be great:
"In an interview with Dan Norton, Shannon Eric Denton, and Larry Kenney at Power-Con, they mentioned that if there was a season two, it would detail Mumm-Ra's hand in the creation of the Snarfs, Slithe's history with Lynx-O (which would also explain how Slithe and the Lizards sided with Mumm-Ra), Mumm-Ra tricking the ThunderKittens into bringing the Sword of Omens to him, so that he could send them to El Dara, and Pumyra being transformed into a wicked insectoid monster on a mission to capture the ThunderCats. The name of the final stone was also revealed as the Soul Stone. "
But if I was to compare it to the writing of GI Joe Renegades(had the same amount of episodes), I thought GI Joe was better.
Right. That fucking show was amazing.
For you cats getting upset about TeeLa.
If you remember in the original 80s series, it was revealed that TeeLa was the daughter of the Sorceress and her Father was Man-At-Arms. They both had a relationship. The series never went into depth on the relationship between TeeLa and the Sorceress. It’s possible they are going to go in-depth in this series and that is why she is the “main” character.
Also, it was revealed in the 80s series that the Queen who was He-Mans mother, was a astronaut from Earth that got caught into a wormhole or something and crashed landed on Eternia.
And I don’t recall the original series from the 80s giving any backstory on Skeletor and his origins and why exactly he wanted Grayskull. If they did explain it, somebody give me a recap please.
If you remember in the original 80s series, it was revealed that TeeLa was the daughter of the Sorceress and her Father was Man-At-Arms. They both had a relationship. The series never went into depth on the relationship between TeeLa and the Sorceress. It’s possible they are going to go in-depth in this series and that is why she is the “main” character.
Also, it was revealed in the 80s series that the Queen who was He-Mans mother, was a astronaut from Earth that got caught into a wormhole or something and crashed landed on Eternia.
And I don’t recall the original series from the 80s giving any backstory on Skeletor and his origins and why exactly he wanted Grayskull. If they did explain it, somebody give me a recap please.
I just watched a great documentary about it let me find it...
Sidebar
And it was not a good movie but better than its given credit for.
Fam I think you need to step away from this thread... use google and then come back..
you got your dates mixed up on who came first.
i never said who came first my brother....now i think you should step away and learn not to put words in someone's mouth
Sorry guys.
But by all indications this is shaping up to be a major "Bait & Switch" job by Hollyweird, that continues to push their unwanted Woke agenda.
The current trend from Hollyweird is to take a beloved, previously well established IP and "updating" it by injecting MORE feminism, LGBTQ and race swapping for the sake of representation and telling the fans and audience that this true diversity.
The primary premises are now: "Girls Rule & Boys Drool". And pushing "LGBTQ Acceptance".
1st it was:
Next, it was:
Followed by:
Then; overseas, at the BBC, they produced these woke gems:
Not to be outdone, The MCU is now pushing a substantially more "woke" agenda with:
I hope I'm wrong about this with this version of He-Man, but I doubt it.....
Sorry guys.
But by all indications this is shaping up to be a major "Bait & Switch" job by Hollyweird, that continues to push their unwanted Woke agenda.
The current trend from Hollyweird is to take a beloved, previously well established IP and "updating" it by injecting MORE feminism, LGBTQ and race swapping for the sake of representation and telling the fans and audience that this true diversity.
The primary premises are now: "Girls Rule & Boys Drool". And pushing "LGBTQ Acceptance".
1st it was:
Next, it was:
Followed by:
Then; overseas, at the BBC, they produced these woke gems:
Not to be outdone, The MCU is now pushing a substantially more "woke" agenda with:
I hope I'm wrong about this with this version of He-Man, but I doubt it.....
We will see very soon.
If it is, I will be one of the first to say so.
But if you wrong? hope you stand by your statements
Cause it better be EXACTLY like these scared white dudes saying...
Not kinda sorta
Cause Kevin and Marc have repeatedly and publicly said that ain't the case.
I read the social media posts about this and it seems it's the usual white boy wannabe incel basement dwellers panic.
we will ALL see VERY VERY soon.
Cause if YOU RIGHT?
This will really hurt Kevin career moving forward.
And trust we gonna see like 10 pages here ripping it apart
Not to mention the rest of social media.
I 100% agree.
But just 'cuz Kevin Smith says something, doesn't mean he ain't lying either.
Over the past few years, this dude has shown more and more that he's become a shill for Hollyweird.
And from the 2 trailers I've seen of this series, all the predictions of those "scared white dudes" look as though they are true.
But hey.
You're probably right.
And hopefully, I'm completely wrong.
Fingers crossed...
Oh, and "yes".
I WILL stand by my earlier post.
And if I'm wrong, I'll happily admit it....
Last edited:
I 100% agree.
But just 'cuz Kevin Smith says something, doesn't mean he ain't lying either.
Over the past few years, this dude has shown more and more that he's become a shill for Hollyweird.
And from the 2 trailers I've seen of this series, all the predictions of those "scared white dudes" look as though they are true.
But hey.
You're probably right.
And hopefully, I'm completely wrong.
Fingers crossed...
Oh, and "yes".
I WILL stand by my earlier post.
And if I'm wrong, I'll happily admit it....
I respect it and you even did a hand ID check
Seriously I really hope your wrong.
The sorceress is the most powerful Character in MOTU, evil Lyn was a great villian, Tela was a great female character respected by young boys and girls.
Highlighting them is SMART
Story wise, legacy wise and most importantly BUSINESS wise.
And i disagree with you, I don't see Kevin like that though.
I'm a Day one fan so maybe I'm biased.
He always seemed solid to me. Cause I have heard him speak with no "theatrics " no jazz hands no bug eyes and no silly hats no crying and no dick jokes.
Don't let that "version" fool you
I've heard him talk without all that and he a real dude a hollywood veteran and seen and been through a whole lot of real industry sh*t and been proven right way more than wrong over decades I take his word over any twitter dudes.
I'm putting my money on him till I'm proven wrong.
Like I said if he right?
I really hope he goes out of character and completely sh*ts on those haters. He won't but he should.
If Tela, is gay or bi (which I would be fine with) and she becomes the new he man (which would not be a good idea at all and cause riots) etc?
Woo boy...
Kevin gonna have to take a long vacation.
I respect it and you even did a hand ID check
Seriously I really hope your wrong.
The sorceress is the most powerful Character in MOTU, evil Lyn was a great villian, Tela was a great female character respected by young boys and girls.
Highlighting them is SMART
Story wise, legacy wise and most importantly BUSINESS wise.
And i disagree with you, I don't see Kevin like that though.
I'm a Day one fan so maybe I'm biased.
He always seemed solid to me. Cause I have heard him speak with no "theatrics " no jazz hands no bug eyes and no silly hats no crying and no dick jokes.
Don't let that "version" fool you
I've heard him talk without all that and he a real dude a hollywood veteran and seen and been through a whole lot of real industry sh*t and been proven right way more than wrong over decades I take his word over any twitter dudes.
I'm putting my money on him till I'm proven wrong.
Like I said if he right?
I really hope he goes out of character and completely sh*ts on those haters. He won't but he should.
If Tela, is gay or bi (which I would be fine with) and she becomes the new he man (which would not be a good idea at all and cause riots) etc?
Woo boy...
Kevin gonna have to take a long vacation.
Clearly, I don't share your faith in Smith but I still hope the series will be good.
But, as you said, we'll see.
Until then, remember...
"I HAVE THE POWER!!!!"
If only you remembered the whole fiasco behind the movie.
I wonder if that kid ever got what he was promised smh
Last edited:
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe | Netflix Official Site
Eternia's Prince Adam discovers the power of Grayskull and transforms into He-Man, Master of the Universe. A reimagining of the classic animated series.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation – Kevin Smith Brings Ultimate He-Man Story to Netflix
Netflix's Masters of the Universe: Revelation is much more than just another attempt to bring He-Man to a modern audience.
By Mike Cecchini|July 21, 2021|
Photo: Netflix
For a brand as beloved as Masters of the Universe, the franchise sure seems to have fallen on tough times lately. He-Man himself hasn’t had an animated series of his own since an excellent 2002 reboot stalled after two seasons. There have been endless attempts to get a new live-action movie out of the gate over the last decade or more. And ol’ Prince Adam has been upstaged by his twin sister Adora, recently the subject of Netflix’s excellent She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, arguably the best adaptation of elements of the MoTU world to ever hit the screen.
She-Ra prided itself on subverting expectations, from the character designs and animation style to its studied unwillingness to ride on He-Man’s coattails and its wonderful commitment to representation and diversity. Netflix’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation, on the other hand, has the stated purpose of being a direct sequel to the original animated series, Filmation’s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and both that mission statement and the faithful character designs make it clear this new series has old school fans in mind.
It’s all coming from a place of love for the franchise and expertise in its complicated history. Series creator and executive producer Kevin Smith recently told Den of Geek about his own experiences with the world of He-Man and the MoTU franchise growing up.
“When I was watching [the original series] I was about 11 or 12 years old,” Smith recalls. “I’d been a massive Star Wars fan… [but] my interactivity with Masters of the Universe wasn’t the toys as much as it was the cartoon, which I watched literally every episode of. I was born in 1970, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was on in the early ’80s. We barely had cable TV. So you didn’t have a plethora of choices. After school I’d come home and this was on and maybe I was a little bit older than I should have been for enjoying that show, but I loved animation. It didn’t matter. I still watched Saturday morning cartoons at that age. I still watched Super Friends. So for me it wasn’t off-brand to be sitting there and enjoying this cartoon.”
AD
AD – CONTENT CONTINUES BELOW
Of course, that old Filmation series was aimed at the youngest of viewers, and it hasn’t aged particularly well even when viewed with the most nostalgic of eyes. Which makes the fact that Masters of the Universe: Revelation is so great a remarkable achievement.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation picks up shortly after (it’s never specified) the conclusion of that original cartoon series. Of course, continuity (or logic) were never much of a concern there, so if you know the basics of the He-Man legend (planet Eternia, magic and high technology coexist, Prince Adam is secretly He-Man, evil Skeletor with cool looking henchmen, etc) you know everything you need to know from the first moment.
But while this may indeed be a sequel to that original series, it’s more of a spiritual sequel to the entirety of MoTU lore, something evident from the opening credits, which pay tribute not to the old cartoon but rather the lush painted artwork that adorned classic Masters of the Universe toy packaging. Sure, every character you would expect from the old show is here (plus some surprises) but so are countless other characters from the toys, vehicles, structures…and deep cuts you might never expect.
Top ArticlesREAD MOREHow Aliens Changed Video Games Forever ‑ Denof Geek
Interestingly, Smith didn’t have much experience with the toys themselves.
“It was just weird to not be able to interact with [the franchise] like everybody else [as a child], because it was made to sell toys,” he says. “And that was the one effect that it wasn’t going to have on me, based on my finances. We were not a rich family by any stretch of the imagination. So to be able to, years later, grow up and then ‘play with the toys’ so to speak, making this show felt super special. In a world where I didn’t get to play with them as a kid, it was worth it to wait for this long.”
While primarily known as an indie film director with a penchant for comedy, Smith has a history of blending the best elements of complicated mythologies together when he plays in other sandboxes, nodding to different elements of continuity, dropping obscure Easter eggs for serious fans, while telling easily accessible stories. His comic book runs on Daredevil and Green Arrow helped redefine those characters and position them for the A-list status they later achieved, and his infamous but better-than-you’ve-heard, unfilmed Superman Lives screenplay from the late 1990s hinted at elements of a wider DC Universe, long before that sort of thing was fashionable.
AD
AD – CONTENT CONTINUES BELOW
With such touchpoints in mind, Masters of the Universe: Revelation feels like Smith’s ultimate fan achievement: paying tribute to a complicated and bizarre mythology in a way that still feels welcoming to new audiences. In fact, it was those Daredevil and Green Arrow runs that Smith says brought him to the attention of Mattel’s Vice President of Content/Creative, Rob David. Smith recalls that David told him they were hoping to make something “for all the fans who grew up with it, who the show meant something to, who know every detail about it.”
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Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!
Subscribe
For a lifelong fan like Smith, paying tribute to the original series was an “intriguing” prospect, more so than doing a complete reinvention like Netflix had done with She-Ra. This led him to conversations with another lifelong He-Man fan, Netflix’s Director of Original Programming, Ted Biaselli.
Smith describes Biaselli as “the secret sauce in all of this.” It was Biaselli who insisted that the characters and concepts be taken seriously. “Treat it like Shakespeare,” Smith recalls being told.
While that may sound ambitious, or even ridiculous when we’re talking about a franchise with characters named Battle Cat, Roboto, and Mer-Man, Masters of the Universe: Revelation really goes for it, and has a voice cast that’s up to the task. The beats and pacing of the story, were these six episodes perhaps toned down for live-action, would feel perfectly at home with the pacing of a prestige cable drama. Chris Wood and Sarah Michelle Gellar are both wonderful as He-Man/Prince Adam and Teela, and Mark Hamill as Skeletor is one of those castings that it’s hard to believe nobody thought of sooner. But when they’re joined by the likes of two perfectly cast Game of Thrones veterans (Liam Cunningham as Man-at-Arms and an almost impossibly good Lena Headey as Evil-Lyn) you’re in for an even bigger treat. Keep an ear out for Henry Rollins, too.
To call Masters of the Universe: Revelation a “sequel to the original series” is in fact something of a disservice. The best way to describe it is a series that blends all of the disparate elements of the He-Man legend from the toys to the comics to the cartoons, takes them as seriously as one can possibly take them without resorting to adolescent grimdark pretensions (hmmm…Grimdark sounds like a perfect MoTU villain now that I think about it), and tells a serialized story that is both a perfect introduction for new fans and feels like the show has “grown up” with its original audience.
That’s something of a revelation in itself.
Netflix's Masters of the Universe: Revelation is much more than just another attempt to bring He-Man to a modern audience.
By Mike Cecchini|July 21, 2021|
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Photo: Netflix
For a brand as beloved as Masters of the Universe, the franchise sure seems to have fallen on tough times lately. He-Man himself hasn’t had an animated series of his own since an excellent 2002 reboot stalled after two seasons. There have been endless attempts to get a new live-action movie out of the gate over the last decade or more. And ol’ Prince Adam has been upstaged by his twin sister Adora, recently the subject of Netflix’s excellent She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, arguably the best adaptation of elements of the MoTU world to ever hit the screen.
She-Ra prided itself on subverting expectations, from the character designs and animation style to its studied unwillingness to ride on He-Man’s coattails and its wonderful commitment to representation and diversity. Netflix’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation, on the other hand, has the stated purpose of being a direct sequel to the original animated series, Filmation’s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and both that mission statement and the faithful character designs make it clear this new series has old school fans in mind.
It’s all coming from a place of love for the franchise and expertise in its complicated history. Series creator and executive producer Kevin Smith recently told Den of Geek about his own experiences with the world of He-Man and the MoTU franchise growing up.
“When I was watching [the original series] I was about 11 or 12 years old,” Smith recalls. “I’d been a massive Star Wars fan… [but] my interactivity with Masters of the Universe wasn’t the toys as much as it was the cartoon, which I watched literally every episode of. I was born in 1970, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was on in the early ’80s. We barely had cable TV. So you didn’t have a plethora of choices. After school I’d come home and this was on and maybe I was a little bit older than I should have been for enjoying that show, but I loved animation. It didn’t matter. I still watched Saturday morning cartoons at that age. I still watched Super Friends. So for me it wasn’t off-brand to be sitting there and enjoying this cartoon.”
AD
AD – CONTENT CONTINUES BELOW
Of course, that old Filmation series was aimed at the youngest of viewers, and it hasn’t aged particularly well even when viewed with the most nostalgic of eyes. Which makes the fact that Masters of the Universe: Revelation is so great a remarkable achievement.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation picks up shortly after (it’s never specified) the conclusion of that original cartoon series. Of course, continuity (or logic) were never much of a concern there, so if you know the basics of the He-Man legend (planet Eternia, magic and high technology coexist, Prince Adam is secretly He-Man, evil Skeletor with cool looking henchmen, etc) you know everything you need to know from the first moment.
But while this may indeed be a sequel to that original series, it’s more of a spiritual sequel to the entirety of MoTU lore, something evident from the opening credits, which pay tribute not to the old cartoon but rather the lush painted artwork that adorned classic Masters of the Universe toy packaging. Sure, every character you would expect from the old show is here (plus some surprises) but so are countless other characters from the toys, vehicles, structures…and deep cuts you might never expect.
Top ArticlesREAD MOREHow Aliens Changed Video Games Forever ‑ Denof Geek
Interestingly, Smith didn’t have much experience with the toys themselves.
“It was just weird to not be able to interact with [the franchise] like everybody else [as a child], because it was made to sell toys,” he says. “And that was the one effect that it wasn’t going to have on me, based on my finances. We were not a rich family by any stretch of the imagination. So to be able to, years later, grow up and then ‘play with the toys’ so to speak, making this show felt super special. In a world where I didn’t get to play with them as a kid, it was worth it to wait for this long.”
While primarily known as an indie film director with a penchant for comedy, Smith has a history of blending the best elements of complicated mythologies together when he plays in other sandboxes, nodding to different elements of continuity, dropping obscure Easter eggs for serious fans, while telling easily accessible stories. His comic book runs on Daredevil and Green Arrow helped redefine those characters and position them for the A-list status they later achieved, and his infamous but better-than-you’ve-heard, unfilmed Superman Lives screenplay from the late 1990s hinted at elements of a wider DC Universe, long before that sort of thing was fashionable.
AD
AD – CONTENT CONTINUES BELOW
With such touchpoints in mind, Masters of the Universe: Revelation feels like Smith’s ultimate fan achievement: paying tribute to a complicated and bizarre mythology in a way that still feels welcoming to new audiences. In fact, it was those Daredevil and Green Arrow runs that Smith says brought him to the attention of Mattel’s Vice President of Content/Creative, Rob David. Smith recalls that David told him they were hoping to make something “for all the fans who grew up with it, who the show meant something to, who know every detail about it.”
Join our mailing list
Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!
Subscribe
For a lifelong fan like Smith, paying tribute to the original series was an “intriguing” prospect, more so than doing a complete reinvention like Netflix had done with She-Ra. This led him to conversations with another lifelong He-Man fan, Netflix’s Director of Original Programming, Ted Biaselli.
Smith describes Biaselli as “the secret sauce in all of this.” It was Biaselli who insisted that the characters and concepts be taken seriously. “Treat it like Shakespeare,” Smith recalls being told.
While that may sound ambitious, or even ridiculous when we’re talking about a franchise with characters named Battle Cat, Roboto, and Mer-Man, Masters of the Universe: Revelation really goes for it, and has a voice cast that’s up to the task. The beats and pacing of the story, were these six episodes perhaps toned down for live-action, would feel perfectly at home with the pacing of a prestige cable drama. Chris Wood and Sarah Michelle Gellar are both wonderful as He-Man/Prince Adam and Teela, and Mark Hamill as Skeletor is one of those castings that it’s hard to believe nobody thought of sooner. But when they’re joined by the likes of two perfectly cast Game of Thrones veterans (Liam Cunningham as Man-at-Arms and an almost impossibly good Lena Headey as Evil-Lyn) you’re in for an even bigger treat. Keep an ear out for Henry Rollins, too.
To call Masters of the Universe: Revelation a “sequel to the original series” is in fact something of a disservice. The best way to describe it is a series that blends all of the disparate elements of the He-Man legend from the toys to the comics to the cartoons, takes them as seriously as one can possibly take them without resorting to adolescent grimdark pretensions (hmmm…Grimdark sounds like a perfect MoTU villain now that I think about it), and tells a serialized story that is both a perfect introduction for new fans and feels like the show has “grown up” with its original audience.
That’s something of a revelation in itself.
THE 'MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: REVELATION' CAST SAYS THE NETFLIX SHOW TACKLES 'THE WEIGHT OF DECEPTION'
Contributed by
Tara Bennett
@TaraDBennett
Jul 19, 2021, 1:46 PM EDT
152
Shared
Tag:Features
Tag:Masters Of The Universe: Revelation
Tag:Masters Of The Universe
Tag:Chris Wood
Tag:Sarah Michelle Gellar
Tag:Tiffany Smith
Tag:He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe
Tag:Interviews
In the original ‘80s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated series, one of the charms of the show was that He-Man had a pretty cool posse of friends and cohorts helping him thwart Skeletor and his bad guy brigade. There was Man-At-Arms and his adopted daughter, Teela, Cringer (aka Battle Cat), and Orko the magician — He-Man’s inner circle were worthy ride or dies.
Because of that, Mattel TV and Kevin Smith weren't interested in fixing what wasn't broken, so they decided to approach Netflix’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation as a continuation of the mythology with the already established relationships remaining intact from the original series. Thus, He-Man’s inner circle is comprised of all the familiar faces, along with the addition of one new character, Andra (voiced by Tiffany Smith).
In a recent Zoom call, SYFY WIRE connected with the core trio — He-Man (Chris Wood), Teela (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Andra (Smith) — for a non-spoilery conversation about what exactly wooed each of them to the project.
(Credit: Netflix)
When you were first asked about participating Masters of the Universe: Revelation, was it a no-brainer or did the legacy of the property loom large in your decision making?
Sarah Michelle Gellar: I was fortunate enough to get to read the first five [scripts] before I signed on. And I had a long talk with Kevin about what he wanted to do and what he wanted to say. The scripts were so beautifully written, so it's such an elevated project in that sense. And I mean that, honestly. I was so emotionally connected with these characters, so quickly. I wanted to know what was going to happen.
Chris Wood: Yeah, I love Kevin and I will work with him on whatever he wants just because I think he's just a great human and has just contagious, positive energy to be around. And he creates a really fun work environment. And so, I would say yes to anything first and foremost, but also, it's He-Man! He was like, "Do you want to play He-Man?" And I was like, "Yes!"
Tiffany Smith: I didn't know what Andra's journey was going to be. I had no idea who she was or what she was going to be because she's pretty much a brand-new character. The name was used in Masters of the Universe and there was one glimpse of her in the past, but I didn't know where her arc was going to go. But as soon as I talked to Kevin, knew it was Kevin working on it, and some of the other wonderful writers, I just knew that it was going to be a project where I was like, "I don't care what she does. I'm on board for it." And being a huge geek, it feels like Andra and Teela, are kind of the Sam and Frodo of the show. And I love that. [Laughs.]
Credit: Netflix
Without giving anything away, this new series doesn’t mess around with upending the status quo with huge surprises, even touching on that much-maligned logic flaw of He-Man and Prince Adam looking really similar. Can you talk about what you each found compelling about the new show?
Wood: Yeah, that was something that I really loved in reading the scripts before we started recording was just how the weight of that deception ripples through all the character’s lives. In how his parents react, how his friend who he's been hiding this from reacts to the truth, and what that betrayal feels like. I think that's something that's super relatable to everybody in some capacity, about how much you reveal to people you love and people you're close to. It's an animated show, but it makes you feel things. Watching it, I was actually able — I think for the first time in anything I've worked on — to step outside and actually forget that I was the voice. I was just taking it in. It was insane that Powerhouse and the producers and the writers were able to achieve this effect where you literally are transported when you watch it. I don't know if Sarah and Tiffany felt the same way that, but was just enjoying it as a fan, which is amazing.
Gellar: Yeah, I was too and I got to watch it with my kids too, which is really exciting. I turned on the first episode and then it was shower time. And they both came back downstairs and I was like, "What's up?" And they're like, "We're ready to watch the rest!" They were so excited and most of my projects are not things that my kids can see, so it was really special to be able to share that with them.
Smith: Being the little girl watching cartoons, there wasn't a ton of characters that I could watch on the TV that I could relate to and connect with, or see myself in. But, having a character who is diverse and opens up the world even more in Masters of the Universe — I love that aspect of it. There's going to be people who get to watch and have a character on the show that they can see themselves in, and that was really important for me.
And Sarah and Chris both said this, but the scripts are written so well. And you do have stories for every character that fleshes out the world so much more. That's the adult aspect of the show that you get, that these people actually have heartfelt things going on. And then you just layer on top of it the one liners you're used to seeing in Masters of the Universe, and the action and the bright colors and the Skeletor laugh and all that stuff. It's a love letter to the original series, but obviously a cool new one for old fans and for new ones like Sarah's kids.
www.syfy.com
Contributed by
Tara Bennett
@TaraDBennett
Jul 19, 2021, 1:46 PM EDT
152
Shared
Tag:Features
Tag:Masters Of The Universe: Revelation
Tag:Masters Of The Universe
Tag:Chris Wood
Tag:Sarah Michelle Gellar
Tag:Tiffany Smith
Tag:He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe
Tag:Interviews
In the original ‘80s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated series, one of the charms of the show was that He-Man had a pretty cool posse of friends and cohorts helping him thwart Skeletor and his bad guy brigade. There was Man-At-Arms and his adopted daughter, Teela, Cringer (aka Battle Cat), and Orko the magician — He-Man’s inner circle were worthy ride or dies.
Because of that, Mattel TV and Kevin Smith weren't interested in fixing what wasn't broken, so they decided to approach Netflix’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation as a continuation of the mythology with the already established relationships remaining intact from the original series. Thus, He-Man’s inner circle is comprised of all the familiar faces, along with the addition of one new character, Andra (voiced by Tiffany Smith).
In a recent Zoom call, SYFY WIRE connected with the core trio — He-Man (Chris Wood), Teela (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Andra (Smith) — for a non-spoilery conversation about what exactly wooed each of them to the project.
(Credit: Netflix)
When you were first asked about participating Masters of the Universe: Revelation, was it a no-brainer or did the legacy of the property loom large in your decision making?
Sarah Michelle Gellar: I was fortunate enough to get to read the first five [scripts] before I signed on. And I had a long talk with Kevin about what he wanted to do and what he wanted to say. The scripts were so beautifully written, so it's such an elevated project in that sense. And I mean that, honestly. I was so emotionally connected with these characters, so quickly. I wanted to know what was going to happen.
Chris Wood: Yeah, I love Kevin and I will work with him on whatever he wants just because I think he's just a great human and has just contagious, positive energy to be around. And he creates a really fun work environment. And so, I would say yes to anything first and foremost, but also, it's He-Man! He was like, "Do you want to play He-Man?" And I was like, "Yes!"
Tiffany Smith: I didn't know what Andra's journey was going to be. I had no idea who she was or what she was going to be because she's pretty much a brand-new character. The name was used in Masters of the Universe and there was one glimpse of her in the past, but I didn't know where her arc was going to go. But as soon as I talked to Kevin, knew it was Kevin working on it, and some of the other wonderful writers, I just knew that it was going to be a project where I was like, "I don't care what she does. I'm on board for it." And being a huge geek, it feels like Andra and Teela, are kind of the Sam and Frodo of the show. And I love that. [Laughs.]
Credit: Netflix
Without giving anything away, this new series doesn’t mess around with upending the status quo with huge surprises, even touching on that much-maligned logic flaw of He-Man and Prince Adam looking really similar. Can you talk about what you each found compelling about the new show?
Wood: Yeah, that was something that I really loved in reading the scripts before we started recording was just how the weight of that deception ripples through all the character’s lives. In how his parents react, how his friend who he's been hiding this from reacts to the truth, and what that betrayal feels like. I think that's something that's super relatable to everybody in some capacity, about how much you reveal to people you love and people you're close to. It's an animated show, but it makes you feel things. Watching it, I was actually able — I think for the first time in anything I've worked on — to step outside and actually forget that I was the voice. I was just taking it in. It was insane that Powerhouse and the producers and the writers were able to achieve this effect where you literally are transported when you watch it. I don't know if Sarah and Tiffany felt the same way that, but was just enjoying it as a fan, which is amazing.
Gellar: Yeah, I was too and I got to watch it with my kids too, which is really exciting. I turned on the first episode and then it was shower time. And they both came back downstairs and I was like, "What's up?" And they're like, "We're ready to watch the rest!" They were so excited and most of my projects are not things that my kids can see, so it was really special to be able to share that with them.
Smith: Being the little girl watching cartoons, there wasn't a ton of characters that I could watch on the TV that I could relate to and connect with, or see myself in. But, having a character who is diverse and opens up the world even more in Masters of the Universe — I love that aspect of it. There's going to be people who get to watch and have a character on the show that they can see themselves in, and that was really important for me.
And Sarah and Chris both said this, but the scripts are written so well. And you do have stories for every character that fleshes out the world so much more. That's the adult aspect of the show that you get, that these people actually have heartfelt things going on. And then you just layer on top of it the one liners you're used to seeing in Masters of the Universe, and the action and the bright colors and the Skeletor laugh and all that stuff. It's a love letter to the original series, but obviously a cool new one for old fans and for new ones like Sarah's kids.
The 'Masters of the Universe: Revelation' cast says the Netflix show tackles 'the weight of deception'
The Masters of the Universe: Revelation cast, Chris Wood, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Tiffany Smith, tease a major reveal in the first episode.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation Part 1 Review
By the power of Netflix!
By Matt Fowler
Posted: 21 Jul 2021 11:00 am
The first five episodes of Masters of the Universe: Revelation are available to stream Friday, July 23 on Netflix.
As a sequel to Filmation's classic cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Masters of the Universe: Revelation, from He-Man superfan Kevin Smith, is a bonafide blast.
Developed and designed to be a follow up for like-minded Eternia stans, this new series might not play the same for those with little knowledge of the original, but for those familiar with these characters (and the old action figures and play sets), Masters of the Universe: Revelation superbly spins the story on its head and approaches the lore in a fun and satisfyingly modern way -- even expanding parts of it that weren't previously explained.
Which '80s cartoon should get a new reboot?
Answer
See Results
G.I. Joe
The Legend of Zelda
Jem and the Holograms
Thundercats
Inspector Gadget
Other -- let us know in the comments.
Revelation is chock full of twists, turns, and bold new takes on a few of the characters, but it also makes a point to honor the past. Nothing new presented here negates the previous series, which was born of a massively successful Mattel toy line and ran for 130 episodes in the mid-'80s. It only drives the saga forward in a more mature and serialized fashion -- in ways more aligned with both modern animation and Golden Era TV.
This is definitely a more adult-oriented spotlight for He-Man and company, but it's not full-tilt rated-R fare like Amazon's Invincible. This is still a solid family-friendly adventure, but it shows characters dealing with more serious problems and making harder choices. The first episode, "The Power of Grayskull," drops fans into the ongoing battle between good and evil -- between He-Man and Skeletor -- that served as the spine for the entire original series. Then, after making sure the original recipe formula was being honored and acknowledged, it blows everything up quite spectacularly. What then follows is an exciting and giddily rewarding journey that makes new and wonderful use of the ensemble.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation Official Trailer (2021) Mark Hamill, Lena Headey
2:11
Autoplay setting: On
The voice cast for Revelation is top-notch, but the real star is the story and what the series does with the characters. Sure, it's awesome to hear Mark Hamill as Skeletor, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Teela, Game of Thrones' Lena Headey and Liam Cunningham as Evil-Lyn and Man-At-Arms, respectively, and many more big name talents, but the surprising draw here is the fact that He-Man, more or less, is secondary to this tale, at least for these first five episodes.
Prince Adam and He-Man (voiced by Supergirl's Chris Wood) are important, but they really serve as backdrop. In a manner similar to how Max acts as a lesser lead to Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road, Revelation draws upon the might and majesty of He-Man to facilitate others' arcs. Basically, this is Teela's show. In taking this approach, Revelation can act both as a stunning sequel and also a wondrous "What If?"-type spinoff for those viewers unwilling to accept some choices as pure canon.
Basically, this is Teela's show.
“
After Revelation opens the show by taking us beyond where we thought the He-Man mythos could go -- while also making fun callbacks to both the original series and the 1987 Masters of the Universe movie -- it becomes an epic odyssey about loss, redemption, and sacrifice. A new ragtag team of champions, formed of both heroes and villains, is tasked with returning magic to Eternia and saving the entire universe. Lifelong enemies learn to work together, while still operating under different sets of priorities and motivations, and it all culminates in a wicked game-changing cliffhanger that nicely sets up the back half of the season, which will be released at a later date.
Revelation takes some big swings, but still spares time for smaller moments of sentiment. It also makes fun use of He-Man's insane rogue's gallery of villains, with some (like Mer-Man, Tri-Klops, Stinkor) appearing prominently and others (like Clawful, Spikor, and -- da hell? -- Blast-Attak?) making for formidable background fodder. Again, long-time fans will know who these folks are, but for the uninitiated, they might just feel like random craziness.
Every Voice Actor in Netflix's Masters of the Universe: Revelation
Executive producer/showrunner Kevin Smith and his writers have very much created a niche product here, but it's a beautiful and engrossing one that infuses Masters of the Universe nostalgia -- which is filled with after-school special morals for a younger set -- with heartfelt storytelling that contains actual consequences. It takes all the incongruous elements of the old story, with its wild mix of magic and tech, and silly characters who seemed like they were Mad Libs'd together, and makes it all feel connected and worthy of being part of the same mosaic. In an era of sequels we never thought we'd get, Revelation is a dazzling and exciting continuation that adds maturity and layers to a somewhat silly saga from the past, while never robbing the original of its goofy glory.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation First Images
Verdict
Kevin Smith's Masters of the Universe: Revelation is a big take-having, big swing-taking He-Man sequel that superbly flips the script on the mythos and characters. It makes the bold choice that Prince Adam and He-Man should be integral to the story, but not central, allowing them to push forward others' arcs in interesting new ways. Kevin Smith has created an eye-popping serialized after-Eternia arc that features tragedies, bitter choices, and dark feelings amid the previously nutty world of these super-buff titans and robots. And it works like a charm.
By the power of Netflix!
By Matt Fowler
Posted: 21 Jul 2021 11:00 am
The first five episodes of Masters of the Universe: Revelation are available to stream Friday, July 23 on Netflix.
As a sequel to Filmation's classic cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Masters of the Universe: Revelation, from He-Man superfan Kevin Smith, is a bonafide blast.
Developed and designed to be a follow up for like-minded Eternia stans, this new series might not play the same for those with little knowledge of the original, but for those familiar with these characters (and the old action figures and play sets), Masters of the Universe: Revelation superbly spins the story on its head and approaches the lore in a fun and satisfyingly modern way -- even expanding parts of it that weren't previously explained.
Which '80s cartoon should get a new reboot?
Answer
See Results
G.I. Joe
The Legend of Zelda
Jem and the Holograms
Thundercats
Inspector Gadget
Other -- let us know in the comments.
Revelation is chock full of twists, turns, and bold new takes on a few of the characters, but it also makes a point to honor the past. Nothing new presented here negates the previous series, which was born of a massively successful Mattel toy line and ran for 130 episodes in the mid-'80s. It only drives the saga forward in a more mature and serialized fashion -- in ways more aligned with both modern animation and Golden Era TV.
This is definitely a more adult-oriented spotlight for He-Man and company, but it's not full-tilt rated-R fare like Amazon's Invincible. This is still a solid family-friendly adventure, but it shows characters dealing with more serious problems and making harder choices. The first episode, "The Power of Grayskull," drops fans into the ongoing battle between good and evil -- between He-Man and Skeletor -- that served as the spine for the entire original series. Then, after making sure the original recipe formula was being honored and acknowledged, it blows everything up quite spectacularly. What then follows is an exciting and giddily rewarding journey that makes new and wonderful use of the ensemble.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation Official Trailer (2021) Mark Hamill, Lena Headey
2:11
Autoplay setting: On
The voice cast for Revelation is top-notch, but the real star is the story and what the series does with the characters. Sure, it's awesome to hear Mark Hamill as Skeletor, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Teela, Game of Thrones' Lena Headey and Liam Cunningham as Evil-Lyn and Man-At-Arms, respectively, and many more big name talents, but the surprising draw here is the fact that He-Man, more or less, is secondary to this tale, at least for these first five episodes.
Prince Adam and He-Man (voiced by Supergirl's Chris Wood) are important, but they really serve as backdrop. In a manner similar to how Max acts as a lesser lead to Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road, Revelation draws upon the might and majesty of He-Man to facilitate others' arcs. Basically, this is Teela's show. In taking this approach, Revelation can act both as a stunning sequel and also a wondrous "What If?"-type spinoff for those viewers unwilling to accept some choices as pure canon.
Basically, this is Teela's show.
“
After Revelation opens the show by taking us beyond where we thought the He-Man mythos could go -- while also making fun callbacks to both the original series and the 1987 Masters of the Universe movie -- it becomes an epic odyssey about loss, redemption, and sacrifice. A new ragtag team of champions, formed of both heroes and villains, is tasked with returning magic to Eternia and saving the entire universe. Lifelong enemies learn to work together, while still operating under different sets of priorities and motivations, and it all culminates in a wicked game-changing cliffhanger that nicely sets up the back half of the season, which will be released at a later date.
Revelation takes some big swings, but still spares time for smaller moments of sentiment. It also makes fun use of He-Man's insane rogue's gallery of villains, with some (like Mer-Man, Tri-Klops, Stinkor) appearing prominently and others (like Clawful, Spikor, and -- da hell? -- Blast-Attak?) making for formidable background fodder. Again, long-time fans will know who these folks are, but for the uninitiated, they might just feel like random craziness.
Every Voice Actor in Netflix's Masters of the Universe: Revelation
Executive producer/showrunner Kevin Smith and his writers have very much created a niche product here, but it's a beautiful and engrossing one that infuses Masters of the Universe nostalgia -- which is filled with after-school special morals for a younger set -- with heartfelt storytelling that contains actual consequences. It takes all the incongruous elements of the old story, with its wild mix of magic and tech, and silly characters who seemed like they were Mad Libs'd together, and makes it all feel connected and worthy of being part of the same mosaic. In an era of sequels we never thought we'd get, Revelation is a dazzling and exciting continuation that adds maturity and layers to a somewhat silly saga from the past, while never robbing the original of its goofy glory.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation First Images
Verdict
Kevin Smith's Masters of the Universe: Revelation is a big take-having, big swing-taking He-Man sequel that superbly flips the script on the mythos and characters. It makes the bold choice that Prince Adam and He-Man should be integral to the story, but not central, allowing them to push forward others' arcs in interesting new ways. Kevin Smith has created an eye-popping serialized after-Eternia arc that features tragedies, bitter choices, and dark feelings amid the previously nutty world of these super-buff titans and robots. And it works like a charm.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation Poster Unites He-Man Characters For Epic Battle
MOTU: Revelations releases new epic poster.
screenrant.com
Masters of the Universe: Revelation Preview: He-Man Takes a Deep Dive
In the following preview for Masters of the Universe: Revelation, Skeletor has finally rid himself of He-Man and his allies... right?
bleedingcool.com
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