MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE Post-Credit Scenes Tease the Future of the Franchise
Masters of the Universe has finally arrived in theaters, and director Travis Knight delivered exactly the kind of fantasy adventure fans have been hoping for.
The Amazon Studios and Mattel film has earned a solid response from both critics and audiences, currently sitting above 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it plays like a celebration of everything that made the original toy line and animated series such a phenomenon. At the same time, it introduces enough new ideas to keep things feeling fresh.
One thing the movie makes clear is that this story isn’t over. In fact, Masters of the Universe closes with multiple scenes after the main story that point directly toward bigger adventures ahead, including the arrival of one of the franchise’s most beloved characters and the likely return of He-Man’s greatest enemy.
Before audiences even reach the credits scenes, there’s a fun surprise waiting. Following the film’s ending, Orko finally makes his long-awaited live-action debut. The floating magician, who was famously absent from the 1987 Dolph Lundgren adaptation, appears to recount the story of Prince Adam’s return to Eternia.
Rendered in CGI, Orko’s design closely resembles the classic animated version fans grew up with. While he doesn’t play a larger role in the movie itself, his appearance feels like a rewarding nod to longtime fans and a sign that the filmmakers are willing to embrace every corner of the franchise mythology.
The biggest tease arrives during the mid-credits scene.
While Prince Adam’s journey takes center stage throughout the film, another legendary hero finally steps into the spotlight. Queen Marlena, played by Charlotte Riley, shares a hopeful moment with Man-at-Arms, saying:
“I’d given up hope… Perhaps one day she’ll come back to us too.”
The scene then shifts to Etheria, Eternia’s sister planet. A sprawling city rises in the distance as the camera focuses on a lone warrior dressed in the iconic white-and-gold attire associated with She-Ra.
A soldier approaches and asks: “Force Captain Adora?” She responds: “No, not anymore.”
The moment concludes with the Sword of Protection glowing with power, confirming that Adora has already begun her transformation into She-Ra.
Fans of the mythology will recognize the significance. In established lore, Adora was kidnapped by Hordak and raised within the Evil Horde, eventually becoming a Force Captain. Her eventual discovery of her true identity led her to reject the Horde and become She-Ra, Princess of Power.
This scene suggests that much of that transformation has already taken place. If a sequel moves forward, it seems likely the story will explore Adora reconnecting with her family while facing the threat of Hordak, who would be a natural choice to step in as the next major villain.
Although viewers never get a full front-facing look at the character, reports have confirmed that She-Ra is portrayed by British actress Lauren Saliu. The casting became public after the actress briefly shared behind-the-scenes photos and footage online before deleting the post.
As exciting as She-Ra’s debut is, the final post-credit scene may generate even more discussion among fans.
By the end of the film, Jared Leto’s Skeletor appears to meet a definitive end. During the climactic battle, Adam unleashes the full extent of his power, reforges the Sword of Power, and seemingly obliterates his longtime foe. Skeletor’s skull is left behind, giving the impression that the villain has finally been defeated.
That victory doesn’t last long. The post-credit scene reveals Evil-Lyn, played by Alison Brie, returning to the battlefield after escaping during Skeletor’s downfall. She recovers his skull and delivers a darkly amusing remark:
“I must say, you’ve looked better”
Moments later, the screen cuts to black and Skeletor’s unmistakable laugh echoes through the darkness. The movie never explicitly announces that Skeletor will return, but it doesn’t need to. The message is clear enough. Evil-Lyn has plans, and Skeletor’s story is far from over.
The scene also raises an interesting question for longtime fans. The original animated series never truly killed Skeletor, usually ending with his defeat and retreat back to Snake Mountain.
However, Masters of the Universe: Revelation offered a possible roadmap for resurrection. In that story, a fragment of Skeletor’s essence survived within Evil-Lyn’s staff after his apparent death, eventually paving the way for his return.
Whether the live-action franchise borrows from that concept remains to be seen, but the setup certainly leaves the door wide open.
For now, Masters of the Universe delivers something fans have waited years to see: a big-screen He-Man adventure that embraces its roots while laying the groundwork for an even bigger future.
Between She-Ra’s arrival, the looming threat of Hordak, and Skeletor’s apparent second chance at life, the filmmakers clearly have ambitious plans for where this universe goes next. The only question now is whether audiences show up in enough numbers to make those plans a reality.