By the Power of Grayskull! We've Got a Director

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By the Power of Grayskull! We've Got a Director

Source:Variety

January 29, 2009

Variety has confirmed Latino Review's scoop that Warner Bros. and producer Joel Silver have set Kung Fu Panda co-director John Stevenson to make his live action directing debut on Masters of the Universe, a re-imagining of the signature Mattel toy line.

He-Man is a brawny prince who transforms into a warrior who becomes the last hope for a magical land called Eternia, which is being ravaged by technology and the evil Skeletor.

Silver is producing through his Silver Pictures and Mattel's Barry Waldo will be executive producer.

WB acquired the property in 2007, and Justin Marks wrote the first draft of the script based on a story he wrote with Neil Ellice.

The Mattel property became iconic by way of the 1980s cartoon series "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe," and the property was previously turned into a 1987 film starring Dolph Lungdren as He-Man and Frost/Nixon star Frank Langella as the villainous Skeletor.

Stevenson said he made up his mind when he went to Mattel headquarters and was shown into a secret lair that contained the visuals created by the toymaker staff.

"There was this locked bunker that you had to be escorted into," Stevenson said. "It was filled with art, some generated by the Mattel artists, and I looked around, and said, 'I get it.' We started formulating a specific vision for costumes, creatures, architecture, and the creation of a mythology and look for a whole world we'll create."

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Posted by: Orko on January 29, 2009 at 16:01:36

Well, they can't do any worse.

Posted by: Orko on January 29, 2009 at 16:02:21

than the last MOTU movie I mean.

Posted by: capricorn1230 on January 29, 2009 at 16:04:04

okay, so who should be cast as He-Man/Prince Adam ?

Posted by: Teen:Berserk on January 29, 2009 at 16:04:41

Before anyone starts a topic about it, i got to say that this sounds a good idea. Im itching to see a new live-action movie of He-Man. Its about time-

Oh, and the 1st to post about Pro-Routh's-Superman as some reference is just a fa.ggot. You are warned.

Posted by: Teen:Berserk on January 29, 2009 at 16:07:08

The smartest choice would be to cast a Scandinavian actor. Swedish, Danish, whatever...but he needs the Viking look like Dolph Lundgren.

Posted by: ssb31 on January 29, 2009 at 16:11:58

While I think he would be better suited for the Thor role.....why not Triple H from the WWE? I know, I know.....another wrestler idea......but he has the build....

Posted by: Bfunk00 on January 29, 2009 at 16:12:22

Courtney Cox = Evil Lynn this time around

Posted by: SMcCall64 on January 29, 2009 at 16:12:31

Knowing Hollywood, they'll probably get The Rock/Dwayne Johnson to play He-man.

Posted by: chilipalmer on January 29, 2009 at 16:12:35

YES YES YES!!!! I encourage you all to see the clips from the Justin Marks script , it's link was given out on this sight a few months ago....his vision is really cool.(cross between a Lord of the Rings meets the 300 meets Terminator.)

Oh Hollywood please don't screw this up. Make He-Man awesome....a Lord of the rings

if Transformers can work so can He-Man. Oh what about giving us a live action the Thundercats too!

Strength and Honor Lads

Posted by: Gatewave on January 29, 2009 at 16:12:59

hmm... I thought that the project was scrapped.

interesting?

IDk... I just really hope they change that script that got reviewed earlier - King Randor dying is NOT cool.

also I hope that guy gets how cool the material could be.

Posted by: Shoon on January 29, 2009 at 16:15:13

They need to treat it like Cast Away with Tom Hanks. Film it with a buff He-man then have the actor lose wait and loose the tan to play the smaller Adam to be filmed later.

Posted by: mojojackson on January 29, 2009 at 16:16:22

As long as they make it recognizable as an adaptaion of the 80s cartoon, and not a re-vamped, updated version baring only slight resemblance to the cartoon, like G.I.Joe: Rise Of Cobra, this could be a good idea.

Posted by: RichYan33 on January 29, 2009 at 16:18:57

More proof Hollywood is devoid of any original ideas.

Posted by: Bored @ Work on January 29, 2009 at 16:21:18

Gerard Butler as He-Man!!!!!!!!!!! lol

Posted by: Steelsheen on January 29, 2009 at 16:21:21

they saved He-man!

now lets hope they do good on this.

Posted by: Granamyr on January 29, 2009 at 16:22:06

I am so glad this movie is getting made!

Masters of the universe has the ability to be an action packed, sci-fi/fantasy adventure, filled with mysterious artifacts, dangerous monsters, and incredible villans. Not to mention has the potential to carry the morality important to the show.

For those non-He-Man fans, think about this...

If you put the canon lore of Masters and considered it "truth" and you lined it up against almost all other super hero's/villians and thier truths, He-Man vs Skeletor is the most epic of fights.

Superman fights to save Metropolis
Batman fights to save Gotham
Spiderman - New York

But...

Inside Greyskull is the spirit of the ancients and the secrets to the powers that created the universe. If Skeletor were to get it (and lets face it, he is powerful enough to be able to) it would be as if Marvel's Thanos put on the Infinity Gauntlet. And there is noone in the universe with the strength and goodness to combat such evil other than He-Man.

If this movie is done right... it would be epic

Ofcourse... I still think a frame per frame version of Secret of the Sword would be the best movie ever made....

Posted by: He Man, She Woman, Me Bored on January 29, 2009 at 16:25:36

I just want to know: Will He-Man actually say 'By the Power of Greyskull?' I'm not sure it matters either way in the end. Ha!

Posted by: Dr. Doc on January 29, 2009 at 16:28:20

gotta say im pretty surprised to hear this

i thought this project was dead

well good for Justin Marks though

so how long until the fanboys start *****ing about every little detail?

Posted by: Smegmazor on January 29, 2009 at 16:29:19

Hell Yeah!!!!!! I hope they do justice to the MOTU lore.

Posted by: MisterKeitel on January 29, 2009 at 16:29:33

So, let me get this straight. The toy company shows him what visuals they want him to use (which is code for the toys they want to sell) and then the director will make a story around that. Seems a bit bassackwards to me.

Posted by: Orko on January 29, 2009 at 16:33:26

Knowing Hollywood all the characters will end up in black leather and body armor.

Posted by: Orko on January 29, 2009 at 16:34:53

Posted by: MisterKeitel on January 29, 2009 at 16:29:33

So, let me get this straight. The toy company shows him what visuals they want him to use (which is code for the toys they want to sell) and then the director will make a story around that. Seems a bit bassackwards to me.

You obviously never watched the original cartoon.

Posted by: "OKIE BILL" on January 29, 2009 at 16:36:09

Bet you thought I was HE-MAN... Fooled You It's "OKIE BILL"!

Posted by: Pea-Brain and the Meatballs of the UNIVERSE on January 29, 2009 at 16:37:51

Gee, I'm not so sure this is a good idea...

Posted by: James on January 29, 2009 at 16:40:40

I read that script review and it sounded pretty great. I was totally pumped by it. I also really liked the visuals done in Kungfu Panda. If the director can delve that deeply into how a kung-fu movie is made, then I think he can really get behind this film too. This is a good news day!

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