AceShowbiz - Masters of the Universe and Highlander are two iconic fantasy movies that have been slated for a modern reboot. Nicholas Galitzine will star as He-Man in the upcoming Masters of the Universe film, set to premiere in June 2026, while Henry Cavill will take on the lead role in Highlander, currently in production under the direction of Chad Stahelski and co-starring Russell Crowe and Karen Gillan. The original Masters of the Universe from 1987 and Highlander from 1986 are still remembered fondly, even by generations who weren't born at the time, but upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that neither movie has aged well.

The original Masters of the Universe holds a certain "of-the-era" appeal, and deserves credit for fully embracing the wacky tone of He-Man. However, the live-action adaptation's decision to bring the action to 1980s Earth instead of staying in Eternia has aged awkwardly, with dated references and an awkward clash of fantasy with real life. The production was also fraught with budget issues and creative constraints, which limited the director's ability to conjure up a blockbuster from B-movie ingredients. Masters of the Universe suffered from missing characters, deviations from the lore, and glaring plot holes, which made matters worse.

In contrast, the story of Connor MacLeod in Highlander still holds up, albeit in a rough-around-the-edges fashion. The hardest part of rewatching Highlander is deciding whether to accept it as another camp '80s action flick. Unlike Masters of the Universe, it doesn't definitively fall into "so bad it's good" territory. Highlander gets caught between sides, and that divide has only grown over the years. Both Masters of the Universe and Highlander have developed a cult following, but with Highlander, it feels like you're laughing at the movie more than with it. For those who love Russell Mulcahy's film, the nonsense is part of the fun, but Highlander's reputation in 2025 trades almost entirely on nostalgia.

The reboot of these two iconic movies could be either a blessing or a curse. On one hand, it's an opportunity to revamp and improve upon the original stories, bringing them to a new generation of audiences. On the other hand, it's a risk of altering the essence of what made the originals so beloved. With Chad Stahelski at the helm of Highlander and Nicholas Galitzine starring in Masters of the Universe, fans can only hope that the reboots will do justice to the originals and bring a fresh perspective to the iconic stories.