The new Masters of the Universe movie is hotly anticipated, as is the casting decision for actors who could play Skeletor, He-Man’s arch-nemesis within the franchise. This far-reaching universe started as a toy and comic, then blossomed into a beloved children’s animated series. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe has been made into a live-action feature-length film before, to disastrous results. The 1987 iteration starring Dolph Lundgren has largely been forgotten by fans for how it failed to live up to fans’ and critics’ expectations.

However, things are looking up for the upcoming addition to the He-Man canon, as Nicholas Galitzine is the newest actor cast in Masters of the Universe. Galitzine has recently made headlines for his performance as Hayes Campbell in The Idea of You and Prince Henry in Red, White & Royal Blue. Despite these films falling into the rom-com genre, Galitzine is more than up to the challenge of taking on an action role, but he’ll need a strong counterpart as Skeletor. Whoever plays the villainous antagonist in Masters of the Universe must capture a character who’s pure evil.

10

Willem Dafoe

Known for Poor Things (2023) & Spider-Man (2002)

There are few places Willem Dafoe won’t go when taking on his wide range of incredible and complex roles. Since the earliest part of his career, Dafoe has balanced taking on kind, tragic, and contemptible characters. He gives each the weight and attention they deserve. As an actor, Dafoe understands that the antagonist is just as important if not even more than the hero, and often gets to have more fun. In the fantasy world of Masters of the Universe, the terrible Skeletor will get to experiment more with character than the heroic He-Man.

Poor Things saw Dafoe don a number of prosthetics and transform into a character that appeared straight out of a fairytale. The ability to handle both practical and CGI effects will be important for Skeletor’s actor, as the production team will most likely have the character appear as he does in the comics, with a skeleton face. Regardless, Dafoe will be able to deliver an exceptional performance even if his face is hidden beneath a mask because of his experience and skill.

9

Idris Elba

Known for Luther (2010–2019) & Thor (2011)

Early in his career, Idris Elba was immediately singled out for his unforgettable performance in The Wire, one of the best television shows of all time. Later, he became the titular character in Luther, a show with elements of crime dramas and psychological thrillers, which was consistently elevated by Elba’s performance. Elba has proved that he’s comfortable in a variety of projects, as stories rooted in reality have not been all he’s taken on. As Heimdall in Thor and other Marvel offerings, he was a fantastic addition to the franchise.

While Elba might be more closely associated with serious dramatic work rather than superheroes and comics, that doesn’t mean he couldn’t bring this gravity and notoriety to Skeletor in Masters of the Universe. No one yet knows the tone that the new movie will strike, and it’s possible that within its fantasy world, there will be plenty of opportunity for quality acting from everyone involved. It takes a great actor to make audiences feel an emotional connection to villains, but Elba could accomplish this as Skeletor.

8

Giancarlo Esposito

Known for Breaking Bad (2008–2013) & The Gentlemen (2024–Present)

Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring in Breaking Bad was the role of a lifetime and one that Esposito embodied perfectly. However, since the show ended, he’s only grown in relevance and ability, especially as a villain. It’s largely due to Breaking Bad that Esposito is first seen as an antagonist, as a good role can pigeonhole an actor. However, it works out as Esposito knows what he’s doing as these scheming and brilliant characters, making the audience as scared as they are intrigued.

The past several years have seen Esposito with a hand in many great TV series like The Gentlemen, Parish, and The Boys. With his reported future in the MCU coming to fruition, it seems there’s nothing he can’t do. Though Marvel will take up some of his time, Esposito would be perfect for Skeletor, and would bring in a niche of audience members Masters of the Universe should target. Fans of the shows Esposito has starred in would jump at the chance to see him in something new.

7

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Known for The Walking Dead (2010–2022) & Supernatural (2005–2020)

Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Negan in The Walking Dead was so popular that he got his own spinoff, The Walking Dead: Dead City. Additionally, Morgan is playing a new character in The Boys season 4, who audiences are intrigued to learn more about, as his fate remains a mystery. All in all, Morgan has only grown in popularity as an actor since his early work in Supernatural and Grey’s Anatomy. Of all the characters he’s played thus far, Negan is the closest to Skeletor, as he’s a brutal killer in The Walking Dead.

In terms of film work, Morgan hasn’t had an explosive career, though his recent movie, The Postcard Killings​​​​​​, found a new life after being added to streaming. Despite this and his busy schedule with his many new shows and roles, Morgan could find time to add playing a major villain in an upcoming franchise to his list of accomplishments. The terror Negan sparks, whenever he’s onscreen in The Walking Dead, is exactly what the actor who plays Skeletor needs to bring. Additionally, Morgan is unafraid of being known as a villain by audiences.

6

Samuel L. Jackson

Known for The Avengers Franchise (2012–2019) & Pulp Fiction (1994)

No one knew what Marvel would become when the first of the Avengers franchise movies premiered in 2012. However, Samuel L. Jackson has already been a part of Marvel as Nick Fury since the beginning, with the 2008 Iron Man. Jackson has proven to be one of the most enduring and bankable stars in the Marvel arsenal. However, Jackson is capable of playing a multitude of characters outside of Fury. He will likely only continue to be one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood as he ages.

His frequent collaborations with high-profile directors like Quentin Tarantino and Matthew Vaughn have propelled Jackson to the forefront of action and thriller projects. Jackson has a strong audience base in the action and superhero genres thanks to his previous work. Casting actors with this kind of box-office appeal will be paramount for Masters of the Universe‘s success. Many of his roles have been antagonistic, but few have been such central villains, and as Skeletor, Jackson would have the opportunity to be singled out for a great performance.

5

Ken Watanabe

Known for Tokyo Vice (2022–Present) & The Last Samurai (2003)

Tokyo Vice has recently let Ken Watanabe explore film noir and the crime thriller genre, as the detective Hiroto Katagiri. Before this, Watanabe had built a reputation for being a skilled actor who could acclimate to a variety of projects, from period pieces to fantasy thrillers. In Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, he treads territory that could be compared to Skeletor in Master of the Universe. He also starred in Nolan’s Inception, demonstrating how he is a grounding force in even the most heady and complex narratives.

This is similar to his work in the recent Godzilla movies, in which he centers his character’s development in the middle of the story’s confusion and science fiction elements. It would be interesting to see Watanabe’s take on Skeletor, as his roles are often nuanced and layered instead of the black-and-white battle of good versus evil that the He-Man stories usually center on. However, casting actors like Watanabe could spur the creative team to explore new territory and push the boundaries of what Masters of the Universe can do.

4

Mads Mikkelsen

Known for Hannibal (2013–2015) & Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)

Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen has long been singled out for his quiet confidence and the demanding roles he takes on. However, Mikkelsen rose to prominence, particularly with U.S. audiences, through his work as Hannibal Lecter in the TV series Hannibal, which reimagined the famed franchise. He and his costar, Hugh Dancy, took great strides in pushing their critically acclaimed show to new heights as it evolved from a simple crime procedural to a cerebral exploration of criminal intent. Since then, Mikkelsen has lent his skills to many projects, playing the bad guy more often than not.

Mikkelsen has made a name for himself playing the sinister villain with malicious intent, as he did early on in Casino Royale, expertly playing off of Daniel Graig’s performance as James Bond. Most recently, Mikkelsen has found himself in Marvel’s Doctor Strange and the Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. He’s made himself at home in these superhero and magic-filled fantasy worlds, and all that’s next for the actor is to embody Skeletor in Master of the Universe to fulfill his newfound niche in genre work.

3

Javier Bardem

Known for Dune: Part Two (2024) & No Country For Old Men (2007)

Javier Bardem’s best movies have encompassed such a wide range of performances it’s difficult to narrow down what roles he shines in the most. However, one of his most iconic, Anton Chigurh, in No Country For Old Men, makes it obvious that Bardem would be unforgettable as Skeletor. Chigurh is truly terrifying and cold-blooded, two traits that must be communicated in any actor’s performance as Skeletor. For Masters of the Universe to carry the proper weight with audiences, the stakes must feel high, which comes down to the villain.

Additionally, as Stilgar in Dune: Part One, and Dune: Part Two, Bardem’s timing is on full display. Though Skeletor isn’t supposed to be a funny villain, he must be clever and the smartest in the room, and Bardem can portray this. Skeletor’s goal is to conquer the entire universe, starting with He-Man and Castle Grayskull, which will likely be featured prominently in the upcoming movie. Bardem understands how to play characters with a single-minded goal, and can simultaneously build out this singular mission to be three-dimensional.

2

Oscar Isaac

Known for Moon Knight (2022) & Dune: Part One (2021)

As he’s aged into even more complex roles, Oscar Isaac never disappoints, seamlessly disappearing into whatever his new character requires of him. Some of his biggest roles have been starring in Moon Knight, the most recent Star Wars trilogy, and Dune: Part One. All this franchise work has been strong and tees him up to take on a new movie universe with even greater longevity. Though he’s been featured prominently in these projects, he hasn’t been the protagonist, or, as in Moon Knight, it was a miniseries with a limited number of episodes.

If Masters of the Universe succeeds, it could go on for a long time. While this can be daunting for some actors, Isaac is a professional and knows the demands and rewards of signing a multi-year contract. Additionally, he’s an expert at collaborating with younger actors. Isaac knows how to develop a strong chemistry, as with Timothée Chalamet in Dune. Though Galitzine’s He-Man and Isaac’s Skeletor would be on opposite sides of the conflict, this necessitates a magnetic dynamic between the two actors which Isaac could easily achieve.

1

David Tennant

Known for Doctor Who (1963–Present) & Good Omens (2019–Present)

David Tennant was so well-loved as the tenth Doctor in Doctor Who, that he was brought back several times throughout the series, long after the Doctor regenerated into their eleventh incarnation. While the Doctor is well-known for being one of sci-fi’s greatest heroes, that doesn’t mean Tennant should only be typecast as an altruistic character. His performances in Jessica Jones and Good Omens prove he’s capable of playing a villain. This was particularly apparent in Jessica Jones, as his character, Kilgrave, is truly vile.

Additionally, with a background in theater and stage performance, Tennant brings great nuance to his characters, as he understands no role is one-dimensional. However, Tennant has not been in many films, mainly sticking to TV and theater throughout his long career. This could be for a variety of reasons, but his playing Skeletor in Masters of the Universe would be a great opportunity to step out of his comfort zone and join a potential movie franchise. It’s clear he’s more than up to the challenge of playing Skeletor with malice and true evil.