Masters of the Universe Reboot Adopts $6.7B Sci-Fi Franchise Trick: What’s the Secret?

The latest iteration of Masters of the Universe draws inspiration from a renowned sci-fi saga.

According to producer Jason Blumenthal, the upcoming live-action reimagining of the beloved 1980s series has adopted a significant strategy from a sci-fi franchise valued at $6.7 billion. The new Masters of the Universe film features Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam, who is whisked away from Eternia and concealed on Earth for 15 years to protect him from the oppressive Skeletor, portrayed by Jared Leto. After Skeletor’s rule is established, Adam returns to Eternia with a resolve to retrieve the Sword of Power and assume the role of He-Man to overthrow Skeletor.

During a visit by ScreenRant to the movie’s set, Blumenthal shared that the depiction of Eternia in Masters of the Universe has been influenced by the world-building techniques used in James Cameron’s Avatar. He detailed that Eternia features its own system of language, similar to Pandora’s Na’vi, utilizing symbols instead of numbers to represent translatable words and phrases. This is especially evident in the language shown on Teela’s ship, which mimics the intricate detail found in Avatar.

Here’s what Blumenthal revealed:

“Our art department has crafted an Eternian language complete with a grid of letters, which we have incorporated throughout the sets and on Teela’s ship. For those who want to dive deep and decipher it, you can follow the grid. It’s amazing because I wasn’t even aware of this until Sunday—that’s how subtly you can integrate these easter eggs. So, it turns out, when you decode it, it reads ‘product of Hordak Industries.’ Most people won’t catch that.”

Like the Avatar films, which used the Na’vi language to enrich the realism of its universe, Masters of the Universe employs a similar approach with a “grid” system correlating specific letters to the Eternian language, as noted by Blumenthal. It appears that this feature will predominantly be seen in the textual elements throughout the movie.

Though the trailers for Masters of the Universe indicate that the film will primarily use English, there may also be instances of spoken Eternian. This addition not only differentiates Eternia from Earth but also enriches the fantasy realm with its unique, distinct history, making its environments—from ships to castles to sword fights—feel distinctly otherworldly.

The distinct aspects of Eternia, such as its magical and sci-fi components, make the introduction of a unique language a logical step for the movie. This film sets itself apart from previous He-Man adaptations by placing Adam on Earth and blending fantasy with sci-fi elements more thoroughly. Overall, this approach helps the movie distinguish itself from past versions.

With the Eternian language playing a vital role in the film’s world-building, Masters of the Universe is poised to offer a fresh take on the saga. While it retains the core elements fans love, the introduction of a language inspired by Avatar adds a unique layer that helps the film stand alone. As the release date of June 5, 2026, approaches, audiences will soon see all these creative elements come to life.