Action Fantasy Epic Returns With New 2026 Release After Reboot Bombed At Summer Box Office

One classic action fantasy property is gearing up for an exciting new release.

Though live-action fantasy remains popular on the small screen with releases like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, House of the Dragon, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, among others, it’s a genre that has been less successful on the big screen as of late. The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) recently underperformed in theaters, as did Mortal Kombat II (2026). Even superhero fantasy movies are struggling, with Supergirl (2026) failing to connect in a major way. These 2026 releases aren’t the only ones to fall short, however.

After the Masters of the Universe reboot movie fell flat in theaters last month, the franchise is gearing up for another release, this time for the original animated series. Per Blu-ray.com, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is coming to Blu-ray on August 25. Check out the box art below:

The physical media release, which is available for pre-order on Amazon, will include all three seasons of the original animated show, as well as The Secret of the Sword (1985) and He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special (1985). The release will include 13 discs in total and has a list price of $44.98.

Airing from 1983-1985, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe chronicles the battle between He-Man and villain Skeletor over the planet of Eternia. Created by Mattel, the show was one component of a large multimedia franchise, with toys, comics, books, magazines, and video games arriving throughout the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s.

The 2026 Masters of the Universe movie was positioned as the big-screen return for the franchise following a 1987 movie of the same name. Directed by Travis Knight, the reboot stars Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man and Jared Leto as Skeletor, with a supporting cast that includes Idris Elba, Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, Charlotte Riley, and Morena Baccarin, among others.

Made on a budget of between $170-$200 million, the fantasy epic was a commercial dud, having grossed just $111 million as of writing. At this budget level, the Amazon MGM Studios movie may have been looking at a break-even point of $425 million or more, making it a significant disappointment.

Though it may not have fared well at the box office, Masters of the Universe reviews were generally positive. The film enjoys a lukewarm 68% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, with the Popcornmeter score higher at 86%.

It seems unlikely that another Masters of the Universe movie will be hitting theaters anytime soon given the response to the most recent effort, but the new Blu-ray release could be an exciting one for those who grew up with the franchise. As the original animated show is now over 40 years old, the upcoming physical media release will ensure continued access to these classic titles at a high quality level for those who purchase them.

Cast

John Erwin, Alan Oppenheimer, Linda Gary, Lou Scheimer, George DiCenzo, Dolph Lundgren, Kyle Allen, Frank Langella, Meg Foster, Billy Barty, Courtney Cox, Robert Duncan McNeill, Jon Cypher, Chelsea Field, James Tolkan, Christina Pickles, Erika Scheimer, Jay Scheimer

Created by

Roger Sweet

Character(s)

He-Man, Skeletor, Prince Adam, Cringer, Battle Cat, Beast Man, Man-At-Arms, Orko, Teela