\u00ab\u00a0Masters of the Universe\u00a0\u00bb director Travis Knight said the iconic cartoon villain Skeletor is the \u00ab\u00a0embodiment of toxic masculinity\u00a0\u00bb during an interview with Empire on Friday.<\/b>
\n\u00ab\u00a0Masters of the Universe\u00a0\u00bb reboot director Travis Knight described Skeletor, the classic cartoon villain and nemesis of He-Man, as the \u00ab\u00a0embodiment of toxic masculinity.\u00a0\u00bb
During a Friday interview with Empire, Knight explained how he worked with actor Jared Leto, who plays Skeletor in the film, to craft their own iteration of the villain.
\u00ab\u00a0Jared approached us, because he loves Skeletor and has his own history with the character. He wanted to swing for the fences. And ultimately we landed on something that I\u2019m really happy with\u00a0\u00bb, he told Empire. \u00ab\u00a0Skeletor\u2019s kind of the embodiment of toxic masculinity.\u00a0\u00bb
Skeletor was first introduced as part of Mattel’s \u00ab\u00a0He-Man\u00a0\u00bb and \u00ab\u00a0Masters of the Universe\u00a0\u00bb toy line in the early \u201880s and quickly became one of the decade\u2019s most iconic cartoon villains.
The first iterations of the ghastly villain were recognized by his signature golden skull, purple garb and his high-pitched, maniacal laughter. Skeletor was portrayed as a cruel, arrogant leader who would boss around his minions while on his quest to destroy He-Man and rule over Eternia.
Knight told Empire that while the original cartoon incarnation of Skeletor \u00ab\u00a0was a really interesting villain\u00a0\u00bb, he wanted to craft a unique vision of the character for his film.
\u00ab\u00a0[Skeletor] looked cool. He was scary. He was funny. He was insecure. And then of course he had this distinctive voice\u00a0\u00bb, he said of the villain’s original iteration, adding that he \u00ab\u00a0wanted someone to craft their own version of that.\u00a0\u00bb
Empire noted that this version of Skeletor \u00ab\u00a0wasn\u2019t always going to be this way\u00a0\u00bb, considering a \u00ab\u00a0Masters Of The Universe\u00a0\u00bb reboot has been in the running for years, with previous iterations of the screenplay featuring the villain’s visage as a golden skull mask.
\u00ab\u00a0I said, \u2018F— that s—. Skeletor has a skull face,\u2019\u00a0\u00bb Knight told the outlet. \u00ab\u00a0That\u2019s just the way it is. It\u2019s a living, talking, emoting skull, and that\u2019s that.\u00a0\u00bb
Knight’s rendition of \u00ab\u00a0Masters of the Universe\u00a0\u00bb premieres in theaters worldwide on June 5, 2026, and is the first film from the franchise since 1987.
The 2026 reboot garnered attention with its first trailer. In it, the reboot introduces He-Man\u2019s origin story before quickly cutting to the character sitting in a cubicle at a corporate office. His desk features a nameplate that says \u00ab\u00a0Adam Glenn\u00a0\u00bb, the character\u2019s alter ego, along with a pronoun display reading \u00ab\u00a0He\/Him.\u00a0\u00bb
The character\u2019s boss then chides him, saying, \u00ab\u00a0This obsession with nerd stuff and sword things, it’s not a good look for human resources.\u00a0\u00bb In the trailer, he is reunited with the iconic Power Sword and returning to Eternia, eventually doing battle with chief series antagonist Skeletor.
The series’ previous movie is widely revered as a cult classic, featuring Hollywood icon Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor.<\/p>\n