He-Man & The Masters Of The Universe

[Dr.Detroit75]

OK. Now, after reading the thread "What Ruins A Superhero Movie" (and posting on the thread), I've got to ask these questions, particularly for Moviefan2k4:

1. How would "He-Man & The Masters Of The Universe" look as a movie? (Not to discount the cheeseball "Masters Of The Universe" movie made back in 1987, with Dolph Lungren, and Frank Langella). Personally, I think a new version should be based more on the original 80's cartoon.

2. What characters should be featured in the movie, and sequels? (if any)?

3. Who'd be the best person to direct it? Personally, I'd say it has to be someone who excells in fantasy, and action movies (off the top of my head, I'd say Chris Columbus).

4. Who should write the movie?

5. Who should star in the movie? (Personally, I say go with mostly unknowns, although, I can see Tom Felton as Prince Adam, and Vanessa Lengies as Teela)!

Any thoughts?

 

[Jay Lifestar]

1. How would "He-Man & The Masters Of The Universe" look as a movie? (Not to discount the cheeseball "Masters Of The Universe" movie made back in 1987, with Dolph Lungren, and Frank Langella). Personally, I think a new version should be based more on the original 80's cartoon.

I think a Lord of The Rings meets The Chronicles of Narnia (Visually, CGI wise) approach might fit best.

2. What characters should be featured in the movie, and sequels? (if any)?

The Core. He-Man, Man At Arms, Teela, Skeletor .... there's a lot to keep to keep the franchise moving for a long time.

3. Who'd be the best person to direct it? Personally, I'd say it has to be someone who excells in fantasy, and action movies (off the top of my head, I'd say Chris Columbus).

I'm imagining a "Peter Jackson" type while in his "Lord Of The Rings 2 {know it's not the name - just like calling it that} mode. Can't think of any particular directors off the top of my head, though.

4. Who should write the movie?

I think someone's giving this a treatment ... can't remember the guy's name, though.

5. Who should star in the movie? (Personally, I say go with mostly unknowns, although, I can see Tom Felton as Prince Adam, and Vanessa Lengies as Teela)!

Well with the budget you would need to pull this off right you'll either have to go with unknowns with some important roles while hiring dedicated/known box office draws with the others or get a big name draw to star as He-Man or Skeletor and fill the rest out with relative unknowns that fit the roles best but likely won't command big money. Or maybe you can have a big name director attched that can bring a lot of people into a movie just on thier names alone and go with an entirely little known cast.

Cool post.

 

[Dr.Detroit75]

1. How would "He-Man & The Masters Of The Universe" look as a movie? (Not to discount the cheeseball "Masters Of The Universe" movie made back in 1987, with Dolph Lungren, and Frank Langella). Personally, I think a new version should be based more on the original 80's cartoon.

I think a Lord of The Rings meets The Chronicles of Narnia (Visually, CGI wise) approach might fit best.

2. What characters should be featured in the movie, and sequels? (if any)?

The Core. He-Man, Man At Arms, Teela, Skeletor .... there's a lot to keep to keep the franchise moving for a long time.

3. Who'd be the best person to direct it? Personally, I'd say it has to be someone who excells in fantasy, and action movies (off the top of my head, I'd say Chris Columbus).

I'm imagining a "Peter Jackson" type while in his "Lord Of The Rings 2 {know it's not the name - just like calling it that} mode. Can't think of any particular directors off the top of my head, though.

4. Who should write the movie?

I think someone's giving this a treatment ... can't remember the guy's name, though.

5. Who should star in the movie? (Personally, I say go with mostly unknowns, although, I can see Tom Felton as Prince Adam, and Vanessa Lengies as Teela)!

Well with the budget you would need to pull this off right you'll either have to go with unknowns with some important roles while hiring dedicated/known box office draws with the others or get a big name draw to star as He-Man or Skeletor and fill the rest out with relative unknowns that fit the roles best but likely won't command big money. Or maybe you can have a big name director attched that can bring a lot of people into a movie just on thier names alone and go with an entirely little known cast.

Cool post.

Thanks for posting, Jay Lifestar!! Now, let me ask you these 2 questions:

1. Should Orko be featured in the movie?
2. Should Cringer/Battle-Cat talk?

Personally, I say yes to both, because to me, without those elements, it takes too much of the fantasy out of the story!

 

[JRPJCDJC]

Thanks for posting, Jay Lifestar!! Now, let me ask you these 2 questions:

1. Should Orko be featured in the movie?
2. Should Cringer/Battle-Cat talk?

Personally, I say yes to both, because to me, without those elements, it takes too much of the fantasy out of the story!

Had to respond to this. Orko and a talking Battle-cat inspired one thought - The Never Ending Story from 1984. Even though it is almost 25 years old I think it would be a great mold to follow for a He-Man: Masters of the Universe movie. Another good one from that timeframe might be The Dark Crystal.

And please - no Krull references.

 

[[A]]

Hmm isn't there a Masters of the Universe thread already..?

 

[Jay Lifestar]

Thanks for posting, Jay Lifestar!! Now, let me ask you these 2 questions:

1. Should Orko be featured in the movie?
2. Should Cringer/Battle-Cat talk?

Personally, I say yes to both, because to me, without those elements, it takes too much of the fantasy out of the story!

1. Should Orko be featured in the movie?

Definitely. Can't have a Master's of The Universe without an Orko. The one thing I think I would play differently (in my fantasy world where I write, produce, direct and cast multi-million dollar movies ) is that while keeping him the jokester/comic relief I would emphasize the fact that this is a potentially dangerous and powerful mage (elf, wizard, or what have you) ... but pace it out. Perhaps save his magic outburst for one big Oh S#@! type of moment during the last of the movie during a final battle or something.



2. Should Cringer/Battle-Cat talk?

I think I could take or leave it eitherway but if there had to be talking I'd prefer that "Cringer" talked and "Battle Cat" either didn't (talk) or spoke sparingly (think in terms of The Hulk or what have you).

 

[SUPER SAIYAN D]

Actually, there suppose to be a New Masters of the Universe movie in production now. Joel Silver is the producer , and it's looking to be released in 2010.

 

[Panthro]

Hmm isn't there a Masters of the Universe thread already..?

There were a handful of them for a while, but they all seem to have disappeared, partly because info on the film's development is kind of scarce.

As for directors... I wouldn't mind letting Zach Snyder take a whack at it, or maybe Gore Verbinski. Chris Columbus... no. Just no. I don't care how much his Harry Potter entries earned at the box office (c'mon, we all know they got by on the name recognition as opposed to actually being well made) the man does not have the knach for action fantasy adventure.

 

[Dr.Detroit75]

Here's someone I've just thought of to play King Randor:

DENNIS QUAID

 

[Thundarr]

OK. Now, after reading the thread "What Ruins A Superhero Movie" (and posting on the thread), I've got to ask these questions, particularly for Moviefan2k4:

1. How would "He-Man & The Masters Of The Universe" look as a movie? (Not to discount the cheeseball "Masters Of The Universe" movie made back in 1987, with Dolph Lungren, and Frank Langella). Personally, I think a new version should be based more on the original 80's cartoon.

2. What characters should be featured in the movie, and sequels? (if any)?

3. Who'd be the best person to direct it? Personally, I'd say it has to be someone who excells in fantasy, and action movies (off the top of my head, I'd say Chris Columbus).

4. Who should write the movie?

5. Who should star in the movie? (Personally, I say go with mostly unknowns, although, I can see Tom Felton as Prince Adam, and Vanessa Lengies as Teela)!

Any thoughts?

1) Actually I think a He-Man and The Masters Of The Universe movie should be based more on the mini-comics that came with the action figures which started the whole He-Man craze to begin with. The stories were a little more mature and not as silly as the cartoon. Visually the characters should look as much like the cartoon/action figures as possible. The writing and the action scenes should be more grown up.

2) I'd stick with the core characters as much as possible. Prince Adam, He-Man, Man-At-Arms, Teela, and The Sorceress for the heroes. Skeletor, Beast Man, Mer Man, Trap Jaw, Evil Lyn, and Triclopse for the villains. Maybe create some expendable characters just for the movie (like Blade in that awful Dulph Lundgren version), but for the most part stick to characters people will remember. At least from the very beginning of the franchise, many of their later characters were just dumb.

3) I'd go with either Peter Jackson or John Milius as the director. Peter Jackson did such a great job with The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy that he's sure to do a fine job with He-Man. He knows when to use prosthetic make up, when to use animatronics, and when to use CGI, and how to blend them together to create an awsome effect. And John Milius did such a great job on Conan The Barbarian back in 1980 that I'm sure he'd make a great He-Man movie.

4) John Milius should write it. As I said above, he did an awsome job with Conan, blending together several of the original short stories to come out with a script that works very well within the confines of the Hyborian Universe. If handed the minicomics from several of the original action figures and asked to write an original script based on these stories, I'm sure it would turn out great. Also, I'd want him to keep the "two halves of the Power Sword" angle. Prince Adam has one half of the Power Sword and uses it to turn into He-Man. Skeletor has the other half of the Power Sword (I'd give Skeletor's half some sort of cool power too). Skeletor needs to reunite the two halves of the Power Sword in order to open Castle Greyskull and master its secrets.

5) If you want people to actually come and see the movie in theatres and not just have it go directly to DVD, you'll need at least two or three known actors for the main roles. I'd go with Tyler Mane as He-Man, maybe Kris Kristpherson as Man-At-Arms, Angelina Jolie as Teela, and Gary Oldman as Skeletor. I don't know who should play Prince Adam, but it should be someone buff but smaller than the guy who plays He-Man. Basically it should be more like the new Masters Of The Universe cartoon where Prince Adam is a teenager, rather than the original where you're wondering "Why hasn't anyone figured out that He-Man is just Prince Adam with his shirt off and without those sissy purple tights". I'm not saying Prince Adam has to be a teenager in the new He-Man movie, just that he should be smaller and look significantly different than the guy who plays He-Man.

 

[Thundarr]

Thanks for posting, Jay Lifestar!! Now, let me ask you these 2 questions:

1. Should Orko be featured in the movie?
2. Should Cringer/Battle-Cat talk?

Personally, I say yes to both, because to me, without those elements, it takes too much of the fantasy out of the story!

1) It would be good to have a little comic relief in this movie, especially if it's based more on the minicomics than on the cartoon. Maybe have them meet Orco for the first time, and Orco's confused as to why his spells all go apes#!t all of a sudden (I remember there was an episode of He-Man where Prince Adam and Orco went to Orco's home demension and discovers that everythin works backwards there and Orco is his world's most powerful wizard and greatest hero).

2) If you're going to have Orco then you shouldn't have Cringer/Battlecat, or at the very least they shouldn't talk. If they do talk then you should omit Orco. It'll be just too much silliness.

 

[K.B.]

I say "YES" to Orko because he was not nearly as bad as people let on and for BC/Cringer....I'm the same I could take it or leave it.

Interesting fact:

Some episodes had Cringer speak but when he turned into BC, he didn't. Some writers stated that since he speaks as Cringer, he should as BC so thats where we got that and more still..some writers chose to have BC speak very spareingly.

 

[union_jak]

Hmm isn't there a Masters of the Universe thread already..?

They all got merged into this one.

 

[Dr.Detroit75]

1) It would be good to have a little comic relief in this movie, especially if it's based more on the minicomics than on the cartoon. Maybe have them meet Orco for the first time, and Orco's confused as to why his spells all go apes#!t all of a sudden (I remember there was an episode of He-Man where Prince Adam and Orco went to Orco's home demension and discovers that everythin works backwards there and Orco is his world's most powerful wizard and greatest hero).

2) If you're going to have Orco then you shouldn't have Cringer/Battlecat, or at the very least they shouldn't talk. If they do talk then you should omit Orco. It'll be just too much silliness.

The eposode you're reffering to is called "Dawn Of Dragoon". That's also the introduction to Orko's girlfriend, Dree-Elle! And I have to disagree about #2. The only thing that would make it too silly is to have a moral segment at the end of the movie, like they had in the cartoons!!!

 

[Dr.Detroit75]

And let me add another character that needs to be introduced:

 

[K.B.]

I pulled out my DVD's recently and have been watching them before bed each night and thinking what I would do if I had to direct it...


I would film moral segments for the DVD t:

 

[rayc1971]

hugo weaving for skeletor!