Dolph Lundgren says he’s proud to ‘pass the sword’ to Nicholas Galitzine as new He-Man
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Actor Dolph Lundgren has reflected on actor Nicholas Galitzine taking over the role of He-Man nearly four decades after he first portrayed the character in the 1987 live-action film 'Masters of the Universe.'
Speaking during the premiere celebrations for the upcoming adaptation, Lundgren described the moment as “passing the sword over” to a new generation. The new film, directed by Travis Knight, is scheduled for release on Friday, June 5.
Dolph Lundgren backs Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man
Lundgren spoke positively about Galitzine stepping into the iconic role and said he was impressed by the actor’s preparation for the film. "He’s a great He-Man, and I think it's a great production, and I was really honored to be part of it," Lundgren said while discussing his performance.
He also described the actor as “very talented” and said he brought “a lot of heart and humor” to the role. Reflecting on their connection through the franchise, Lundgren referred to the experience as “passing the sword over” to the younger actor.
He explained that Galitzine underwent a demanding physical transformation for the part, unlike his own preparation for the 1987 movie. “I came from a sports background, and I already looked the part,” Lundgren said, while noting that Galitzine had to build the physique through months of training and dieting.
Reports surrounding the production stated that Galitzine consumed around 5,000 calories a day and trained for several hours daily over a five-month period to prepare for the role. “It was an everyday-a-week thing,” he told E! News about his intense training routine.
He further said, “It was a pretty short amount of time. You kind of would love to live in this character for a year beforehand, but the training very much changed as the movie went on.” Lundgren also confirmed that he appears in the upcoming film in a cameo role instead of reprising He-Man.
According to the actor, filmmakers originally approached him with a different idea, but he proposed appearing as an older warrior figure who offers guidance. “I said, ‘Why don’t I play some older guy who gives him some advice?’” Lundgren recalled.
He added that the scene eventually became “a gym scene where I give him some words of wisdom.”
New ‘Masters of the Universe’ era begins
Lundgren also stated it is amazing "to realize that there's still something special about this franchise. There's something about what they created back in 1983, I think it was, the series came out, the little cartoon came out and the toys, and there's something about it that people respond to."
The upcoming 'Masters of the Universe' film marks the franchise’s first live-action theatrical release since the 1987 adaptation starring Lundgren. The property originally began as a Mattel toy line in 1982 before expanding into a successful animated television series that became a major cultural phenomenon during the 1980s.
Looking back on the original film’s reception, Lundgren acknowledged that it gained popularity over time. “It became a cult movie later,” he said, reflecting on the legacy of the 1987 version.
The new adaptation stars Galitzine as Prince Adam and He-Man alongside Camila Mendes, Jared Leto, Idris Elba, Alison Brie, and Morena Baccarin. The story follows Prince Adam returning to Eternia to battle Skeletor and defend the planet from destruction.
At the Hollywood premiere, Lundgren and Galitzine posed together for photographs in what many fans described online as a symbolic handover between the original He-Man and the franchise’s new leading star.
