Masters of the Universe’s Skeletor Is the ‘Embodiment of Toxic Masculinity,’ Says Director

Jared Leto’s Skeletor character in Masters of the Universe is “kind of the embodiment of toxic masculinity,” says the movie’s director.

Masters of the Universe arrives in United States theaters this summer from Amazon MGM Studios. Directed by Travis Knight, the movie is based on Mattel’s popular media franchise and will see Nicholas Galitzine play Prince Adam/He-Man, while Leto stars as the villainous Skeletor.

What did Travis Knight say about Jared Leto’s Skeletor in Masters of the Universe?

Speaking with Empire Magazine, Knight opened up about what Masters of the Universe fans can expect from Leto’s performance.

“Skeletor was a really interesting villain,” he explained. “He looked cool. He was scary. He was funny. He was insecure. And then of course he had this distinctive voice…I wanted someone to craft their own version of that. Jared approached us, because he loves Skeletor and has his own history with the character. He wanted to swing for the fences. And ultimately we landed on something that I’m really happy with. Skeletor’s kind of the embodiment of toxic masculinity.”

Previous iterations of the Masters of the Universe movie had Skeletor’s face look like a “golden skull mask.” Knight, however, was very against this idea.

“I said, ‘F— that s—. Skeletor has a skull face,’” Knight said. “That’s just the way it is. It’s a living, talking, emoting skull, and that’s that.”

The official synopsis for the movie reads, “In Masters of the Universe, Director Travis Knight brings the legendary franchise back to the big screen in this epic live-action adventure. After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) back to Eternia where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto). To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.”

Masters of the Universe will be released on June 5, 2026.

Originally reported by Brandon Schreur at SuperHeroHype.

Source: Comingsoon.net