‘Masters of the Universe’: Idris Elba in Talks to Play Man-at-Arms for Amazon MGM

Idris Elba is getting ready to help power Masters of the Universe for Amazon MGM Studios.

Elba is in final negotiations to play Duncan, aka Man-at-Arms, in the live-action feature adaptation of the popular Mattel toy line. Travis Knight is directing the movie that has Nicholas Galitzine set to star as He-Man, alongside Camila Mendes as Teela and Alison Brie as Evil Lyn.

The Masters of the Universe film hits theaters June 5, 2026, and hails from Escape Artists and Mattel Films.

Knight is helming the project from a script by Chris Butler. The initial draft of the screenplay was penned by David Callaham, Aaron Nee and Adam Nee.

Mattel launched the Masters of the Universe franchise with a line of action figures that debuted in 1982. A year later, the animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe premiered in syndication and was followed by video games and other merchandise.

Elba reprises his voice role of Knuckles in Paramount Pictures’ Sonic the Hedgehog 3, set to hit theaters next month, and he also voices the character in the Paramount+ series Knuckles. His forthcoming projects include the Amazon MGM Studios action-comedy Heads of State alongside John Cena and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

Previous credits for Elba include such features as Pacific Rim, Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, The Suicide Squad and Beast, along with the series The Office, Luther and Hijack. Additionally, Elba has played Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Elba is represented by Artist Partnership, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole and the Lede Company.

The Wrap was first to report on Elba’s involvement in Masters of the Universe.