Travis Knight Teases Jared Leto’s Shakespearean Skeletor in MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE
We’ve got some awesome new details about Skeletor in the upcoming live-action Masters of the Universe, and it sounds like this version of Eternia’s most infamous villain is going to be interesting.
With the film hitting theaters later this year, director Travis Knight has offered fans some insight on what Jared Leto is bringing to the skull-faced sorcerer.
This marks the second live-action take on Mattel’s iconic franchise following the 1987 film starring Dolph Lundgren, and this time around, the scale is bigger, the tech is sharper, and Skeletor is getting a serious cinematic upgrade.
Knight recently shared some early details while working through post-production at DNEG in London. According to Empire Magazine, Leto performed in a blue-skinned muscle suit, giving the character a physical presence on set.
As for his face, it was digitally replaced with a CG-animated skull. So while Leto delivered the performance live on set, the final look blends practical costuming with full-on visual effects wizardry.
But the voice may be the most intriguing part of all. It was revealed: “And while (Jared Leto’s) vocalisation avoids rehashing the memorable nasal whine of the original cartoon Skeletor (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer), it doesn’t sound like his own, having instead a dry, Shakespearean timbre.”
That’s a fascinating direction. Fans who grew up with Alan Oppenheimer’s classic animated performance know how distinctive that voice was. Leto isn’t copying it. Instead, he’s going for something more theatrical, more classical, and possibly more menacing in a grounded way.
A “dry, Shakespearean timbre” suggests something controlled, cutting, and maybe even regal in its cruelty.
Knight was clearly looking for an actor who could reinvent the character rather than imitate what came before. He explained, “Jared approached us because he loves Skeletor and has his own history with the character. He wanted to swing for the fences.”
That passion seems to have shaped the performance. Knight added that he collaborated closely with Leto to develop a take on Skeletor that he was “really happy with.”
He also previously teased a thematic angle that gives this villain some modern weight, saying Skeletor will be “the embodiment of toxic masculinity” in the movie.
That description hints that this isn’t just going to be a cackling fantasy villain. It sounds like Knight and Leto are digging into what Skeletor represents in the world of Eternia and maybe even beyond it.
The film centers on He-Man and his allies as they battle Skeletor’s forces to save Eternia. Nicholas Galitzine stars as He-Man, leading a cast that also includes Leto, Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, and Idris Elba.
Knight directs from a screenplay by Aaron and Adam Nee, Chris Butler, and David Callaham, with the Nees co-developing the story alongside Alex Litvak and Michael Finch. Amazon MGM Studios will distribute the film in the United States and Canada, with Sony Pictures Releasing handling international distribution.
Masters of the Universe is set to premiere in theaters on June 5, 2026, and if these early details are any indication, Skeletor is going to be one of the most talked-about elements of the film.
A blue muscle suit. A CG skull. A Shakespearean edge. That’s a wild combo, but it sounds perfect for Eternia’s most dangerous madman.