Do we really need a ‘He-Man’ movie?

K. Thor Jensen Contributing Writer, Entertainment

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Do we really need anything, though? There has been talk of a new live-action Masters of the Universe movie for what seems like forever, and now Deadline is reporting that some new names have been added to the project. We last saw the burly warrior of Eternia on film in 1987 with Dolph Lundgren playing the title role. Let’s just say that it wasn’t really a smash hit, and that was when the toy line was near its peak of popularity.

Jon M. Chu, who is currently helming the 3D conversion and shooting new footage for G.I. Joe: Retaliation, is in talks with Sony Pictures to direct the new movie. The project has been in development for many years, but people started to get excited only recently when a script by Alex Litvak and Mike Finch was turned into production company Escape Artists and described as “very strong.” The script, which was developed under the title Greyskull, seems to be an origin tale where Prince Adam must take up the mantle of He-Man to protect Eternia.

I’m feeling a little nervous about this whole thing, though – it seems like only yesterday that John Carter, a very similar project, tanked without a trace. And that had the intense promotional backing of Disney behind it, along with a hero with a much less stupid name than “He-Man.” Will nostalgia for the 80s be enough to get people to the theater for a guy with no shirt on smacking weird monster men on the ass with the flat side of his sword?

All I know is if there’s no Trap-Jaw I’m walking right out of that theater and demanding my money back.