How 'Masters Of The Universe' Sets Up A Sequel With That Big Tease
The following contains spoilers for Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe (2026) is a colorful reimagining of the classic Saturday morning cartoon series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983) that leans into the cartoonish elements of the source material. Focusing on Adam and his efforts to restore his home world of Eternia to its former glory, Masters of the Universe is a broad fantasy blockbuster that succeeds best when it's willing to get wild and weird. This extends to the third act, where Adam realizes his full power and counters the nefarious Skeletor's magic with his raw might.
The ending of the film sets up Adam and his allies as the guardians of the world once again, with Adam venturing off to serve as He-Man, protector of the world. However, the post-credits tags include two clear teases for the potential direction of the franchise if it is to continue moving forward. With a new hero and a returning villain set up by the credits scenes, it's worth exploring the stories set up by Masters of the Universe and what it means for this new cinematic take on the He-Man mythos.
She-Ra Could Be The Focus Of A Potential 'Masters Of The Universe 2'
The first post-credits sequence of Masters of the Universe reveals that Adam wasn't the only member of the Eternia royal family to be sent off-world when Skeletor took over the world. While Adam was sent to Earth along with the Sword of Power, it turns out his sister, Adora, was sent elsewhere. The scene then cuts to a faraway alien world, where Adora, having gained her own empowered form known as She-Ra, is observing the forces of the Fright Zone alongside another soldier. Adora is treated with a level of respect that Adam wasn't, suggesting she had an easier time retaining her combat training.
She-Ra: Princess of Power (1985) debuted as a spin-off of Masters of the Universe, introducing Adora as the leader of a group of magical princesses who battle against Hordak and his nefarious forces known as the Horde. The character got a renewed popularity with the release of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018), which reimagined the character entirely from the ground up and set it apart from the source material. A She-Ra movie would likely draw more from the original show than from the newer adaptation, which is a Netflix and DreamWorks Animation collaboration that might not be as readily available for Amazon MGM to adapt.
Still, the tease of Adora sets the stage for an ambitious future for the franchise. Adora's battle against the Horde has a host of unique characters that could drive a solo film. Alternatively, Adam could find out about Adora and set out to reunite with her, leading to a crossover where the two empowered heroes are able to fight the forces of evil together. Either way, Adora's tease at the end of Masters of the Universe positions her to play a big part in the future of the franchise, with the specific framing of her debut in the film leaving the door open for the filmmakers to cast anyone in that role.
Skeletor Is Poised For A Comeback In A He-Man Sequel
The second post-credits scene of Masters of the Universe brings back Skeletor and Evil-Lynn, revealing that the latter has the ability to resurrect the villain despite his defeat. This sets the stage for Skeletor to return as the villain for a prospective sequel. It's not really that big of a surprise, given the important role the character has in the franchise as He-Man's most consistent and distinctive enemy. It also makes sense that, through the use of magic, the villain could return.
If anything, the return of Skeletor could allow the prospective sequel to move in the sort of direction that Masters of the Universe: Revelation (2021) did. The animated Netflix series revitalized the franchise by showcasing a truly empowered Skeletor, setting up an epic battle that seems like a natural fit for the kind of blockbuster action that the new live-action films seem to be aiming for. The biggest problem in directly adapting it would be the Netflix connection, similar to She-Ra.
However, that tone could be a natural fit for the future of the blockbuster series, especially if it wants to lean more into Skeletor. Jared Leto's performance in the film as the villain was one of the frequent highlights cited by critics and audiences, making it feel likely that the character will return in any future adventures. The post-credits scenes just reinforce that, laying the groundwork for the character's return in sequels that further enhance his abilities or even find a threat (like Hordak) that is powerful enough to briefly unite the enemies as reluctant allies for a future Masters of the Universe film.
