Netflix is almost ready to release Kevin Smith's He-Man animated series, which is the revival everyone has been waiting for and includes the corresponding games.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation will premiere on July 23rd and will offer a revamped look that maintains the style of the 1980s show while providing a more "down to earth and real" aesthetic. It's essentially the series you've had in your mind since you were a kid.
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Smith picks up where the original series left off, though it's not a straightforward sequel. It begins with an epic battle that leaves the Guardians of Grayskull scattered to the winds, and the creators promise that characters like He-Man, Teela, and Orko will change over time. In other words, the show has evolved a bit over the years.
The cast is surprisingly familiar. Chris Wood plays He-Man. Sarah Michelle Gellar will also play Teela, Lena Headey Evil-Lyn, and Mark Hamill will play Skeletor. Additionally, Alan Oppenheimer, who played Skeletor and other characters in the original series, returns as Moss Man.
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Mattel's action figures, due out June 15, also reflect this mix of old and new. The Masterverse collection's core designs will be more than familiar if you played with the original toys as a kid, but both will be matched by updated graphics. While pricing isn't yet available, there will be a "core assortment" of seven figures that include He-Man, Skeletor, Moss Man, and Evil-Lyn. A nine-inch Skelegod promises to be awesome, and a 14-inch Ultimate Battle Cat will transform into a Cringer when you remove the armor.
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It's not yet clear whether the new series will be as successful as the old one. The She-Ra series did well on Netflix, setting the stage and balancing the respect for the original with a fresh look. The release of action figures could also help with promotion. While Netflix has released action figures in the past, they've usually been released in response to an interesting series rather than its debut.
