The world of movie adaptations is truly a fickle place, as, these days, anything goes.
From wild casting calls to frustrating setbacks, these two ongoing projects have a “would they or won’t they” vibe that make us wonder if they’ll ever be released. Here’s the latest news on the two highly-anticipated productions.
Nicholas Galitzine, James Purefoy, Charlotte Riley, Jared Leto In “Masters Of The Universe”
It looks like Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel Films’ live-action adaptation of “Masters of the Universe” is all coming together, as they have found more actors filling integral roles in the story. When we last checked on the “Masters of the Universe,” we knew that Idris Elba would be the film’s Man-at-Arms, He-Man’s trainer, and loyal bodyguard. Now we’ve received word on who will be He-Man, his loving parents, as well as his greatest foe.
Right off the bat, we’ve confirmed that Nicholas Galitzine (known for his roles in “The Idea of You” and “Purple Hearts”) will be your Adam of Eternia, better known as He-Man. And, according to The Hollywood Reporter, he will be accompanied by James Purefoy (known for his roles in “Rome” and “The Following”) and Charlotte Riley (“Edge of Tomorrow” and “Peaky Blinders), who will play the roles of King Randor and Queen Marlena, respectively.
Of course, we can’t have He-Man fight evil without his archnemesis in play. Hence, Jared Leto has been chosen to be the conniving sorcerer, Skeletor. Furthermore, three of his iconic henchmen have also been selected: Sam C. Wilson as Trap Jaw, Hafthor Bjornsson as Goat Man, and Kojo Attah as Tri-Klops. With all these four, and more combined, He-Man might be in over his head – but he isn’t alone.
In the “Masters of the Universe” story, King Randor, a wise and strict king, believes that his son, Adam, is a lazy prince who always dodges responsibilities. Little does he know that his son is off saving the universe most of the time. On the other hand, his wife, Queen Marlena, has grown suspicious of her son’s actions and has inklings of what he is up to.
The “Masters of the Universe” movie will be directed by Travis Knight, with Chris Butler handling the screenplay. The initial draft was penned by David Callaham, and Aaron and Adam Nee. The film is slated for a 5th June, 2026 release.
Netflix Pushes On With “Bioshock” Despite Setbacks
When it came to gaming in the late 2000’s, the one title that was on everyone’s lips was “Bioshock.” The first game talks about Rapture, a failed underwater utopia that is in a constant state of anarchy. It follows the story of Jack Wynad, a survivor of a plane crash who later stumbles onto the city’s remnants, delving deeper and finding darker secrets that should have been left buried.
It was a groundbreaking franchise that spawned multiple sequels and raked in millions of dollars. It earned glowing reviews, due in large part to its philosophical worldview that absolutely gripped gamers of the time, filled with twists and turns that many might not want to forget. It is for that reason, and many more, that it is receiving a long overdue film adaptation.
However, in 2024, the project was delayed multiple times due to budget cuts. It was revealed by producer Roy Lee during San Diego Comic-Con 2024 that the adaptation would be “reconfigured” to suit a “more personal” film with a reduced budget. He did not state why the change was being made, but many assumed that it was due to the aforementioned scale of the setting alone. Rendering all that water can be pretty tough.
Furthermore, since that announcement, Dan Lin has replaced Scott Stuber and issued some budget limits. This, unsurprisingly, has resulted in the crew doubling down on the reconfiguration, delaying the film again to the point that many are still wondering if it will come out at all.
In an interview with Collider, the film’s director, Francis Lawrence (known for his work in “Constantine” and three of “The Hunger Games” movies), confirms that the film is still on its way and that he is still working on it. The veteran happily stated that “I am still attached. Yes, we’re still working on that one, that’s one also that I’m very excited about.”
This is great news for those who are die-hard fans of the franchise, as well as those who are big fans of Lawrence’s work. Many fans hope that the movie would feature the events of the first game, but they aren’t opposed to the flying steampunk city in “Bioshock Infinite.” Despite growing speculation, Lawrence refrained from sharing any details about the film in terms of the plot, let alone the release date.
The “Bioshock” movie has undergone everything from changes in Netflix’s leadership, to numerous writer and actor strikes – but many of the main crew has held fast, and we are crossing our fingers that this film will be worth the wait.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter [1], [2], The Collider
