April 30, 2010
According to reports, writers Mike Finch and Alex Litvak ("Predators") will script Columbia Pictures' upcoming feature adaptation of Mattel toys, "Masters of the Universe."
The Sony adaptation of Mattel's action figure line is based on the Filmation Studios cartoon hero, with Escape Artists' Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch developing
the property for Columbia.
The original Filmation "He-Man: Masters Of The Universe" series, 'inspired' by author Robert E. Howard's "Conan The Barbarian", aired 130 syndicated episodes in 1983, featuring muscle-bound
'He-Man' defending 'Eternia' and the secrets of 'Castle Grayskull' from the evil forces of 'Skeletor'.
The series was followed in 1990 by "The New Adventures of He-Man".
In the first series, set during the aftermath of a 'Great War', the 'Sorceress of Castle
Grayskull', aka 'The Goddess', gave 'Prince Adam', son of planet Eternia's 'King Randor' and the earthling 'Queen Marlena',
his super powers.
Adam would hold aloft the 'Sword of Power', proclaiming, "By the power of Grayskull...I have the
power!" Adam's physique would then ripple with muscles and his green tiger 'Cringer' would change
into the armored 'Battle Cat'.
He-Man's love interest was 'Teela', female 'Captain of the Royal Guard', adoptive
daughter of mentor 'Duncan', aka 'Man-At-Arms' and the only daughter of 'The Sorceress'.He-Man's chief adversary Skeletor, a blue-skinned sorcerer with a cowled
skull for a head, was skilled in black magic, wielding a 'Havoc Staff' ram's skull atop a rod for channeling magic. Skeletor's reptilian base of operations was 'Snake Mountain', a fortress made of black
basalt located on the 'Dark Hemisphere' of Eternia. His motley crew of henchmen included witch 'Evil-Lyn', 'Beast Man', bionic
'Trap-Jaw', multi-sighted 'Tri-Klops' and the 'fish lord' known as 'Mer-Man'.
In 1987 a live-action "Masters of the Universe" feature was produced starring actor Dolph "The Punisher" Lundgren as Prince
Adam and Frank Langella as Skeletor.
