Doesn't look like He-Man and his friends from Eternia will be following the likes of Optimus Prime and his team of Autobots into cinemas - just yet anyway.


After the amazing box office success of fellow '80s toy icons the Transformers last year, and with GI Joe on the way to a multiplex near you real soon, there's been talk about getting a Masters of the Universe live-action movie up and running.

But, according to fanboy website latinoreview.com, studio execs have been running the other way.




Maybe 21-years is still too soon after the last attempt to bring the scantily-clad, sword-wiedling, steroid-popping characters from Grayskull way on to the big screen failed miserably.

That, of course, had big Dolphy Lundgren, fresh from having his assed whipped by Rocky in Rocky IV, as the lead. It was a total abomination. At least I thought so when I was 10, and young enough to care that deeply.

latinoreview.com got its hands on the script for the proposed new version earlier this year and raved about it. It was written by Justin Marks, who has no real claim to fame, other being behind the new Street Fighter film coming out next year.

Apparently Marks was going for a more serious approach to the kiddy 'literature' and make it a lavish Lord of the Rings-type extravaganza called Grayskull, with Prince Adam, aka He-Man, taking on old foe Skeletor over three parts.




Toy maker Mattel is keen to get it happening, but apparently Warner Brothers, which has the movie rights, has given it the cold shoulder. So to did Bryan Singer and Doug Liman, who it was reported, both passed on directing.

I probably can't really blame them. The room for error is great.

Transformers succeeded beyond expectations because it didn't take itself too seriously. It was simply a whole lotta fun - purely as a spectacle. Yeah, I liked it. But don't spread it around too much.

I'm not sure a serious telling of the Masters of the Universe mythology would work. They'd certainly have to do something about He-Man's hair for starters.