Masters of the Universe (TV series)

Lore & Background

The series was announced in December 2019 as an adult-oriented anime sequel to the 1983 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Kevin Smith officially revealed Masters of the Universe: Revelation at Power-Con in 2019, serving as showrunner and executive producer. The first series, Revelation, was released in two parts on Netflix: five episodes on July 23, 2021, and five more on November 23, 2021. A second series, Masters of the Universe: Revolution, was announced in June 2022 and premiered on January 25, 2024. The voice cast includes Chris Wood as He-Man, Mark Hamill as Skeletor, Sarah Michelle Gellar (later replaced by Melissa Benoist for Revolution) as Teela, and William Shatner in Revolution. Powerhouse Animation Studios provided animation inspired by Japanese anime, with music composed by Bear McCreary.

Reader's Guide

Masters of the Universe: Revelation and its sequel Revolution represent a significant continuation of the classic 1980s franchise, directly addressing unresolved storylines from the original series while updating the tone for an adult audience. The series received generally positive reviews from critics, with Part 1 holding a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 47 reviews, and Part 2 also at 92% based on 12 reviews. Critics praised the voice cast, animation, and respectful handling of the source material, though some noted a shift toward grimness. The series sparked mixed reactions among fans, with Variety noting negative fan responses compared to positive critical views. A tie-in comic miniseries by Dark Horse Comics served as a prequel, and an aftershow titled Revelations: The Masters of the Universe Revelation Aftershow accompanied the premiere. The series' legacy lies in its successful revival of a beloved property for a new generation while honoring its roots.

Did You Know?

• Mark Hamill voiced Skeletor, and William Shatner was cast in the sequel series Revolution.
• A four-issue comic miniseries by Dark Horse Comics served as a prequel to the series.
• Bear McCreary composed the score for the series.
• The original 1983 series was created by Donald F. Glut and Lou Scheimer, not Kevin Smith—Smith was the showrunner for this 2021 sequel.

The Fractured World of Eternia

The narrative of Masters of the Universe picks up in the aftermath of a cataclysmic confrontation between He-Man and Skeletor. That final assault on Castle Grayskull not only sealed Skeletor's fate and ended He-Man's reign but also shattered the very source of magic in existence, leaving Eternia physically divided. Decades pass in this broken world, and the once-unified Guardians of Grayskull have scattered. It falls to Teela to track down the vanished Sword of Power and prevent the total collapse of the Universe, a quest that ultimately forces her to uncover the deepest secrets hidden within Grayskull itself. The story deliberately sidesteps the events of both She-Ra: Princess of Power and The New Adventures of He-Man, treating the 1983–1985 Filmation series as its sole canonical predecessor. By the time Revolution unfolds, He-Man has returned and Teela has taken on the mantle of Sorceress of Castle Grayskull. Skeletor, however, has been corrupted by a technological virus engineered by his master Hordak, and he resumes his war against Eternia while hiding behind his former identity as Keldor. Teela's duties as Sorceress also drive her to restore Preternia, the overworld afterlife that Evil-Lyn had devastated.

A Star-Studded Voice Ensemble

The series assembled a voice cast that blended veteran Hollywood names with rising talent. Chris Wood took on the dual role of Prince Adam and He-Man, while Mark Hamill brought his signature gravitas to Skeletor. Revelation's first season featured Sarah Michelle Gellar as Teela, Liam Cunningham, Lena Headey, and Dennis Haysbert as King Grayskull. The second season, Revolution, brought in William Shatner, Meg Foster, and Keith David in the role of Hordak. Notably, the production made several casting shifts between seasons. Melissa Benoist stepped in to replace Gellar as Teela for Revolution, and Gates McFadden took over the role of Marlena from Alicia Silverstone. John de Lancie joined as Granamyr just weeks before the 2024 premiere. Meg Foster, who had portrayed Evil-Lyn in the 1987 live-action film, lent her voice to Motherboard in a Mother's Day-themed announcement. Kevin Smith himself revealed the Shatner casting in July 2022, and Keith David's addition was confirmed in July 2023, giving the ensemble a breadth that critics singled out as a defining strength of the show.

Creative Vision and Production

Kevin Smith served as both showrunner and executive producer, bringing a distinctive sensibility to the franchise. He officially unveiled the project at the 2019 Power-Con convention, having been tasked with creating what Netflix described as an adult-oriented anime series serving as a direct sequel to the 1983 Filmation show. Smith's stated goal was twofold: resolve the unresolved plot threads left dangling by the original while remaining accessible to viewers who had never encountered the 1980s cartoon. He described the series as essentially the next episode in the original run. The writing team included Eric Carrasco, Tim Sheridan, Diya Mishra, and Marc Bernardin. Powerhouse Animation Studios handled the visual production, deliberately drawing inspiration from Japanese anime aesthetics, while DR Movie provided additional animation services. Bear McCreary composed the musical score. The project was a joint production between Mattel Television and Powerhouse Animation Studios. In December 2019, Netflix had simultaneously greenlit a second, CGI-based Masters of the Universe series aimed at children, but the adult-oriented anime project became the one that reached audiences.

Critical Reception and Extended Universe

Upon its staggered release—five episodes on July 23, 2021, and five more on November 23, 2021—Revelation earned generally positive critical response. Rotten Tomatoes gave Part 1 a 92% approval rating across 47 reviews with a 7.3/10 average, while Metacritic assigned a 72 out of 100 based on eight critic reviews. The Rotten Tomatoes consensus highlighted the show's "incredible voice cast" and its ability to update the franchise while preserving the original's quirky charm. Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com praised the production for threading the needle between loving consistency with the source material and genuine freshness, singling out both the visuals and the voice performances. The series also spawned supplementary media. Dark Horse Comics and Mattel released a four-issue miniseries as a prequel, with the first issue hitting shelves on July 7, 2021. An additional oneshot titled "Masters of the Universe: Andra," written by Tiffany Smith, is slated for a July 2025 release. An aftershow called Revelations, hosted by Kevin Smith, Rob David, and Tiffany Smith, premiered alongside the series. Revolution, announced in June 2022, arrived as the third and final part on January 25, 2024.