Masters of the Universe is one of the most hotly anticipated movies of 2026, and as the cast has filled out, it's clear many familiar characters will appear in the film that were not in the previous Dolph Lundgren movie from 1987. While 1987's Masters of the Universe drew inspiration from Marvel and DC, and the film looked to replicate many elements of the animated series before it, this was a complicated endeavor. With a limited budget and only so much access to special effects, some familiar characters had to be replaced.

The new Masters of the Universe film details, from a production directed by Travis Knight, seem to be dedicated to bringing in as much of the franchise's history as possible. Set photos from Masters of the Universe have shown accurate costumes, and familiar faces and characters from the various animated series. Even characters with absurd names, such as Fisto, have been confirmed, suggesting that, rather than trying to modernize the series, the new film will do a great job recapturing its exciting animated tone. The inclusion of these names helps attest to this.

10 Trap Jaw

The Villain Will Be Played By Sam C. Wilson

Trap Jaw has appeared in various incarnations of He-Man stories, but the character was replaced by a new character named Karg in the original Dolph Lundgren film. With a limited budget, it was easier for the film to build a character of its own rather than replicate the curious, green-skinned weapons expert Kronis, otherwise known as Trap Jaw.

Fortunately, Trap Jaw will play a role in the new Masters of the Universe, where he will be portrayed by the actor Sam C. Wilson. Wilson has appeared in episodes of House of the Dragon and played Bill Sikes in the 2022 Charles Dickens adaptation Dodger. There has been no word on what Trap Jaw's role in the new film will be, but it is likely he will be a part of the Evil Warriors and will serve under Jared Leto's Skeletor.

9 King Randor

James Purefoy Will Play Prince Adam's Father

King Randor has had a few different roles throughout the different He-Man series, but he is generally the ruler of Eternia and the father of Prince Adam. In addition to this, he is also the half-brother to Keldor, who becomes the villainous Skeletor. In a rather strange move, Randor did not appear in the 1987 film, even though the character’s kingship is an important part of the story of Eternia.

In different projects, Randor has been depicted in different ways, with later iterations, including 2002’s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, turning him into a much more formidable warrior king. James Purefoy will play the role of Randor in 2026's Masters of the Universe. It is unclear if his iteration will be a fighting hero, or a stately ruler, or perhaps both. Either way, the character is expected to play a role of some importance.

8 Queen Marlena

Charlotte Riley Will Play He-Man's Mother From Earth

Marlena is an important figure in the original Masters of the Universe series, usually depicted as a former astronaut from Earth who has come to Eternia. There, she marries King Randor, and the two sire an heir to the throne in Prince Adam. With such an interesting backstory to pull from, including ties to Earth, Marlena's story has an interesting significance that looks likely to be explored in the new film.

Played by Charlotte Riley, known for her roles in films like London is Fallen and Edge of Tomorrow, it looks as though Marlena's role may have a major impact in the new Masters of the Universe. The first set photos from Masters of the Universe show that at least part of the new film will take place on Earth, making Adam's mother and her heritage that much more important to the story.

7 Fisto

Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson Will Play Malcolm

Fisto is an important character in He-Man's lore, and he has gone through several changes between some of the cartoons. It is unclear how much of each story will be adapted, but Malcolm originally began as a villain, working in the service of Skeletor, before being convinced to change sides by He-Man. He becomes a gruff fighter and a hero, possessing a giant fist that is usually covered in a metal gauntlet, which he uses to fight.

Jóhannesson has appeared in some big projects over the years, having made appearances in Game of Thrones and this year's Captain America: Brave New World.

Fisto may be the biological father of Camila Mendes' Teela, another important character in the film, although it may also be Duncan. It is unclear if this parentage issue will be examined in the new film, but there is great potential for complex storytelling with these excellent characters. Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, star of Vikings: Valhalla, will play Fisto in the new film, and promises to bring a compelling and frightening ferocity to the character.

6 Tri-Klops

Kojo Attah Will Play The Villain

Tri-Klops is an interesting villain in He-Man's history, and will appear in the new film. Equipped with an incredible rotating visor that allows him different abilities, including night vision and the ability to see through objects, Tri-Klops is a follower of Skeletor. An excellent sword fighter, the villain may play an exciting role in the new film, contributing to some of the most interesting action sequences.

Kojo Attah, who recently appeared in Jason Statham's The Beekeeper and the series Supacell, will play the villain in the new film. While Tri-Klops is not a major figure in He-Man stories, he is an interesting thug with powers that could be fun to examine in the new film. Seeing how his visor works in an updated live-action film is an interesting and compelling prospect to explore.

5 Ram-Man

The Hero Will Be Played By Jon Xue Zhang

Ram-Man is an unusual hero in the lore of Masters of the Universe, originally described as "the human battering ram." In the comics, Filmation series, and Netflix series, it seemed that there was disagreement about what to do with the character. While in some appearances he is depicted as very large, in others he is shown to be small and dwarfish. It is unclear which iteration will be used in the new film.

Still, Ram-Man is an exciting inclusion. Played by Jon Xue Zhang, one of many excellent stunt performers cast in the film, the actor looks like he will bring an excellent physical presence to the role. Ram-Man is unlikely to play a large part in Masters of the Universe, but his inclusion is very exciting.

4 Goat-Man

Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson Will Play The Villain

Goat-Man, sometimes written as Goatman, is not a major character in the history of Masters of the Universe. Introduced as a minor villain in 1985 in the book Secret of the Dragon's Egg, the character did not wind up appearing in animation until much later, in 2021. Like Andros, Goat-Man is usually depicted as a member of the G'hoat people and is big and violent.

Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson might be best known for his incredible fight sequence alongside Pedro Pascal in Game of Thrones, but the actor has proven himself as a professional strongman. Standing at 6 ft, 9 in, with an incredible, muscular build, Björnsson is likely to play into at least one excellent battle sequence in the new film. Using his size, the villain should be memorable here.

3 Moss Man

Stephen Adentan Will Play The Hero

Moss Man has had a difficult time in the He-Man continuity. First introduced in 1985, the character did not have enough time to make a major impact before the original series came to a close. His entrance into various other animated iterations along the way wound up the same way, with the character only getting a small role in each series. This is disappointing because Moss Man and his ability to change into plants could create some incredible visuals.

Fortunately, the heroic character will appear in the new Masters of the Universe, where he will be played by Stephen Adentan. While the character is unlikely to play an enormous part in the film, it will be exciting to see him and his incredible powers captured in live-action. However he is used, it is about time that Moss Man finally got a chance to shine within the world of Eternia, and hopefully the film can turn him into something memorable.

2 Mekanek

James Wilkinson Will Play The Hero

One of the smartest characters in Masters of the Universe, Mekanek promises to be an interesting addition to the cast of the new film. Another member of the Heroic Warriors, Mekanek was originally developed under the name Spy Man, and has a periscopic neck that extends to great distances. He is often seen alongside the aforementioned Ram-Man, and his powers could be an interesting visual to create in the film.

Mekanek will be played by James Wilkinson, a performer with very little on his resume. Still, it is notable that the actor stands above 6 ft 6 in, bringing another very large and formidable presence to the world of Eternia. Seeing how this winds up looking and feeling in the final film is very curious, and Mekanek could play an essential part in some exciting sequences.

1 Battle Cat

Cringer's Role In This Film Has Not Been Officially Announced

Battle Cat is arguably the most important character that did not appear in the 1987 film, being He-Man's warrior beast that fights alongside him in battle. While the character has not been announced in any news for the film, it was reported by many attendees that the CinemaCon footage for Masters of the Universe contained a look at concept art for the character. While anything could change throughout production, with the film's dedication to capturing Eternia accurately, it seems all but assured that Cringer will appear in the new film.

The character will likely be a CGI creation, and the performance behind the character may only use cat sounds, as in some depictions. However, notably, in the original iteration and some of the cartoons that followed, Battle Cat did speak. If this is the case, it is possible that a voice actor for the character will be added later in post-production. It is unclear what iteration of the character will appear in the new Masters of the Universe, but however he is presented on screen, seeing Cringer is an exciting prospect for longtime fans of the property.