Idris Elba Goes From Valhalla To Eternia As Man-At-Arms For 'Masters Of The Universe'
The Man-At-Arms now comes as Knuckles
This warrior is going from chaos emeralds to Eternian battle armor. The Wire and Knuckles star Idris Elba is in final negotiations to play Duncan, aka Man-at-Arms in Amazon MGM Studios’s live action Masters of the Universe film starring Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam aka He-Man.
Man-At-Arms, also known as Duncan, is a wise and skilled warrior and inventor, who serves as the chief technologist, weapons master, and trusted advisor to the Royal Palace of Eternia, putting him in a mentor role to Prince Adam. Teela is his adopted daughter. He was played by Jon Cypher in the 1987 film adaptation, a seasoned warrior who provided tactical support with his military expertise. He and Teela help He-Man in the battle against Skeletor and rescue Gwildor and helps with the Cosmic Key.
Elba is best known by now as Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, originating in Thor with five subsequent appearances, the three Thor sequels and two Avengers films. He began voicing Knuckles the Echidna in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise with 2022’s Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and continuing with this year’s Knuckles miniseries and next month’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3. In 2016 he voiced Chief Bogo in Zootopia, Shere Khan in The Jungle Book, and Fluke in Finding Dory. His other film roles include Pacific Rim, Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, and The Suicide Squad. His most famous TV roles are starring on The Wire and Luther, and recurring on The Office as Charles Miner for 7 episodes. He also has another Amazon MGM film, the action-comedy Heads of State with Priyanka Chopra Jonas that reunites the Bloodsport actor with his Peacemaker, John Cena.
The new Masters of the Universe movie, in addition to Galitzine, also stars Camila Mendes as Teela and Alison Brie as the villainous Evil-Lyn. The plot of the movie is still under wraps as the newer details are being kept secret, but previously told of Adam coming to Earth as a child, being separated from his Power Sword, finding it after many years and being brought back to Eternia once it’s found to fend off Skeletor.
Laika founder and Kubo and the Two Strings director Travis Knight directs Masters of the Universe from a screenplay by Chris Butler, following initial drafts written by David Callaham, and brothers Aaron and Adam Nee. Escape Artists and Mattel Films are producing. It is set to be released in theaters globally on June 5, 2026.
Sources: The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter