Nicholas Galitzine, the star of the new Masters of the Universe film, has fully embraced his role as the iconic He-Man. When asked where he keeps his He-Man action figure, he laughed and revealed that he has more than one. 'It's funny that you think I only have one. I have a houseful of action figures now. It's really wherever there's space,' Galitzine said during a video call from Los Angeles.
Landing the Role of a Lifetime
After a highly competitive casting process that saw many young Hollywood actors vying for the part, Galitzine—best known for playing Prince Henry in Prime Video's Red, White & Royal Blue—won the role in 2024. The film, directed by Travis Knight (Bumblebee), follows Prince Adam, who is sent to Earth after the evil Skeletor (Jared Leto) attacks Eternia. On Earth, Adam works as a mild-mannered HR representative until he discovers his magic sword and utters the famous phrase, 'By the power of Grayskull, I have the power!'
Galitzine describes playing He-Man as the 'role of a lifetime.' 'It's an incredible honour and responsibility,' he said. 'I remember reading the script for the first time and just falling in love with this character.'
Intense Training and Transformation
To portray the most powerful man in the universe, Galitzine underwent months of grueling training. 'It's not fun and it's not quick,' he admitted. 'Making this movie, I have never seen a better craft services and for the entire six-month shoot I don't think I had a crumb of it.' The hard work paid off when he first appeared on set in full costume. 'I remember seeing Travis for the first time as He-Man and we embraced and it was quite emotional. That really put in perspective all the hard work that I put in getting into shape.'
The day filming ended, Galitzine indulged in an epic cheat meal. 'It was a fusion of culinary delights. There was burgers, pizza, sushi, and I just stuffed my face for the night,' he recalled with a laugh.
A New Interpretation for a New Generation
Galitzine hopes his portrayal meets fans' expectations while offering something fresh. 'My interpretation is slightly different. There's a lot of humour in it as well as heart and action,' he explained. The film also stars Camila Mendes as Teela, Idris Elba as Man-at-Arms, and Kristen Wiig as Roboto.
One of the biggest perks of the role, Galitzine says, is connecting with fans worldwide. 'There's always perks to being He-Man. It's been just a wonderful experience and it's opened so many incredible doors for me. But I just can't wait to take this movie around the world. That's the major perk of getting to do this movie.'
Masters of the Universe opens in theatres this Friday.
