The new Masters of the Universe trailer has sparked discourse about Jared Leto’s take on Skeletor. While the anticipation grows for He-Man’s return, the biggest point of discussion following the release of a trailer is Leto voicing the villain, with fans split over how he sounds.
Masters of the Universe fans react to Jared Leto’s Skeletor Voice
The Masters of the Universe trailer unveils the voice of Skeletor, and it’s not what many expected. Instead of the goofy yet evil delivery fans remember from the original cartoon, this version feels husky and more controlled.
In the trailer, Skeletor says, “The universe shall quake in my shadow,” before taunting He-Man with, “You may have the power, but you’re too scared to use it.” The voice leans into a low, slightly filtered tone, making it feel more restrained than the classic version. Soon after, Jared Leto’s Skeletor voice became a hot topic online, especially on Twitter, where reactions have been all over the place.
Some fans weren’t impressed. One wrote, “He sounds like Arnold Schwarzenegger trying a bane voice.” Another said, “It’s a heavy filter old man voice. Not Skeletor like at all. Makes the Jared Leto casting completely pointless.” Others compared it to a weaker version of familiar villain performances, with one comment reading, “Sounds like dollar store Bane.”
At the same time, not everyone disliked it. “It’s no Alan Oppenheimer, but I don’t hate it,” one fan shared. Another added, “Not gonna lie… It’s actually pretty good.. first and only compliment I’ll give him.” A few viewers even appreciated the subtle approach, noting that it sounded “decently menacing” and not overly forced.
Director Travis Knight has already hinted that this version of Skeletor would feel different. He described the character as “the embodiment of toxic masculinity” and said he wanted something fresh while still keeping what made Skeletor memorable. Alongside Leto, the film also stars Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms (via Empire).
Masters of the Universe is scheduled to hit theaters on June 5.
