5 Star Trek Connections In Masters Of The Universe Live-Action Movies

Masters of the Universe has had two big-screen, live-action adaptations, and both incarnations of He-Man’s world of magic and muscle have connections to Star Trek. Five Masters of the Universe actors have ties to or appeared in the final frontier.

Masters of the Universe first hit movie theaters in 1987, with Dolph Lundgren playing He-Man opposite Frank Langella as Skeletor. Directed by Travis Knight, 2026’s Masters of the Universe is a summer blockbuster that more thoroughly brings the sword and sorcery world of Eternia to life, with Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man and Jared Leto as Skeletor.

On the surface, Star Trek’s intergalactic future differs from Masters of the Universe‘s toy-centric fantasy realm, but both franchises feature noble heroes fighting for good, fantastic technology, and an underlying optimism. Meanwhile, Star Trek and Masters of the Universe also share these actors:

Idris Elba

Idris Elba plays Man-At-Arms in Masters of the Universe 2026. Also known by his real name, Duncan, Man-At-Arms serves King Randor (James Purefoy) as the Captain of the Royal Guard and one of the greatest warriors in Eternia. Duncan is also the adoptive father of Teela (Camila Mendes).

Star Trek Beyond starred Idris Elba as Krall. The main villain of Star Trek Beyond, Krall was secretly Captain Balthazar Edison, a Starfleet Captain who was mutated into an alien. Idris donned full-body prosthetics to play Krall, who sought revenge on the United Federation of Planets and was stopped by Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and the crew of the USS Enterprise.

Chelsea Field

Chelsea Field played Teela in 1987’s Masters of the Universe. In Cannon Films’ version of the story, Teela joined He-Man and Man-At-Arms (Jon Cypher) on Earth as they seek an interdimensional transporter called the Cosmic Key, and try to keep it from falling into Skeletor’s hands.

Chelsea Field did not appear in Star Trek, but she is married to Scott Bakula, who played Captain Jonathan Archer on Star Trek: Enterprise. Field and Bakula married in 2009, and they have two children.

Scott Bakula’s real life with Field is also the basis of his proposed comeback series, Star Trek: United, centering on President Archer and his family.

Meg Foster

Meg Foster played Evil-Lyn in Masters of the Universe 1987. A malevolent sorceress, Evil-Lyn is Skeletor’s loyal servant and closest confidant. With her piercing blue eyes, Foster’s Evil-Lyn was one of the most memorable aspects of He-Man’s first live-action adaptation.

Foster guest-starred as Onaya in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 4, episode 21, “The Muse.” An energy being in humanoid form, Onaya fed on creative energy and targeted Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton), preying on the young writer as he penned his first novel, “Anslem.”

Robert Duncan McNeill

Robert Duncan McNeill’s first starring role in a movie was in Masters of the Universe 1987. McNeill played Kevin Corrigan, the musician boyfriend of Julie Winston (Courtney Cox). Kevin finds the Cosmic Key, making him a target of Skeletor’s forces and needing He-Man’s protection.

McNeill played the iconic role of Lieutenant Tom Paris in seven seasons of Star Trek: Voyager, a role he reprised by voicing Paris in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2.

Before Paris, however, Robbie appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation as disgraced Starfleet cadet Nicholas Locarno, whom he also reprised in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4.

Frank Langella

Frank Langella chewed the scenery as Skeletor in 1987’s Masters of the Universe. Seeking control of the Cosmic Key and Castle Greyskull in his quest to become a god and defeat He-Man, Langella’s heel turn as Skeletor is the defining performance in the original live-action Masters of the Universe.

Langella had an uncredited role as Bajoran politician Jaro Essa in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2’s 3-part premiere. Jaro schemed to prevent Bajor from joining the United Federation of Planets. Langella appeared in DS9 as a present to his children, preferring not to be credited.

Amazingly, Frank Langella’s Skeletor also made appearances in Star Trek. Langella’s Skeletor mask was re-purposed in Star Trek: The Next Generation for one of the monsters in the Klingon training holodeck programmed used by Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn). This skull-faced alien made recurring appearances, including in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, after Worf joined the cast.