So here’s something that’s been nearly two decades in the making. The Masters of the Universe live action movie is finally happening, and the cast list alone is enough to make you do a double take.

Nicholas Galitzine is stepping into the role of Prince Adam, aka He-Man, and if you’ve seen him in Red, White & Royal Blue or The Idea of You, you’ll know he’s got the charisma for it. But can he pull off “most powerful man in the universe”? The trailer, which dropped on January 23rd, gives us our first proper look, and honestly? It’s intriguing. We find Adam living as a regular guy, working in a drab office on Earth, completely unaware of his true heritage. Think Clark Kent energy, but with a magical sword instead of a cape.

The story picks up with Adam having been separated from his home planet Eternia since he was ten years old, when a devastating civil war forced his mother to send him to Earth for his own protection. Almost two decades later, the Sword of Power draws him back to Eternia, where things have gone very, very wrong under Jared Leto’s Skeletor. And yes, you read that right. Jared Leto as Skeletor. Whatever you’re imagining right now, it’s probably not weird enough.

The supporting cast is where this gets really exciting. Idris Elba plays Duncan, aka Man-At-Arms, the orange armour wearing inventor and adoptive father of Teela. Camila Mendes takes on Teela herself, Captain of the Guards and Adam’s closest ally. Then there’s Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, who in a clever twist poses as Adam’s former college professor on Earth before revealing her true allegiance to Skeletor. Morena Baccarin plays the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull, James Purefoy and Charlotte Riley are King Randor and Queen Marlena, and Kristen Wiig voices Roboto in a gender-flipped take on the character.

Oh, and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, the Mountain himself from Game of Thrones, plays Goat Man. A giant warrior goat. We’re not making this up.

Director Travis Knight is the real reason to pay attention here. This is the man behind Kubo and the Two Strings and Bumblebee, both of which proved he knows how to balance heart with spectacle. He’s been pretty upfront about the film’s tone too, acknowledging the inherent silliness of the source material and saying the team is fully embracing it rather than trying to make everything gritty and serious.

The screenplay comes from Chris Butler (who wrote ParaNorman and Missing Link), alongside Aaron and Adam Nee (The Lost City) and David Callaham (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings). That’s a writing team that understands adventure, humour, and how to build a world without drowning you in exposition.

Mattel is clearly hoping this does for He-Man what Barbie did for, well, Barbie in 2023. If it lands, expect this to be the start of a much bigger franchise. The original toy line launched in 1982, and there’s a treasure trove of characters and lore to draw from. For now though, let’s see if they can nail this first outing.

The film was shot in London, with principal photography running from January to June 2025. Amazon MGM Studios handles the US and Canadian release, while Sony Pictures takes care of international distribution.

Masters of the Universe hits cinemas on June 5th, 2026. If you want to catch up before then, Prime Video has the original 1987 Dolph Lundgren film, plus the classic He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated series from the ’80s and early 2000s.

Pixar has dropped the official trailer for Toy Story 5, and it confirms what we’ve all been wondering. Yes, Woody is back with the gang, and yes, there’s a very good reason for it. The film hits cinemas exclusively on 19 June 2026.

What’s It About?

After Toy Story 4‘s emotional ending, where Woody said goodbye to Buzz and left with Bo Peep to help lost toys, a lot of us thought that was it. Done. Finished. But Pixar found an angle that works.

Bonnie (now eight, voiced by Scarlett Spears) gets a new tablet device called Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee. It’s a frog-shaped screen that immediately captivates her, and the toys are terrified. Not just of being replaced, but of what constant screen time is doing to their kid. Jessie’s apparently spent all summer trying to help Bonnie make friends with no luck, and now Lilypad’s doing it through devices instead of play. It’s a proper “toys vs tech” setup, and Woody’s line in the trailer nails it: “Toys are for play, but tech is for everything.”

Woody returns looking a bit worse for wear after his time helping lost toys, but he’s back because a kid needs him. That’s consistent with everything we know about the character, and it doesn’t undo his Toy Story 4 arc. Smart move, Pixar.

Cast & Crew

Tom Hanks and Tim Allen return as Woody and Buzz, with Joan Cusack, Tony Hale, Annie Potts, and Keanu Reeves all reprising their roles. The notable additions include Conan O’Brien as Smarty Pants (a potty-training tech toy), Craig Robinson as a GPS hippo called Atlas, and Matty Matheson as tech-fearing toy Dr. Nutcase.

Worth noting: Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head have been recast following the passing of Don Rickles and Estelle Harris. Jeff Bergman (the voice of Bugs Bunny) takes over Mr. Potato Head, and Anna Vocino steps into Mrs. Potato Head. Ernie Hudson also replaces the late Carl Weathers as Combat Carl. Sensitive recasts, but they’re in good hands.

Behind the camera, Andrew Stanton (WALL•E, Finding Nemo) directs, with Randy Newman returning to score his fifth Toy Story. Given that WALL•E is literally about technology vs humanity, Stanton feels like the perfect fit for this story.

🔍 Easter Egg Watch: Check Lilypad’s packaging in the trailer. The manufacturer is “Eggman,” a callback to the “Eggman Movers” truck from the original 1995 film, itself a tribute to late Pixar artist Ralph Eggleston.

If you’ve ever dreamed of being surrounded by thousands of fellow anime fans while getting first looks at Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Jujutsu Kaisen, One Piece, and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, then mark your calendars. AnimeJapan 2026 takes over Tokyo Big Sight on March 28 and 29, and this year’s event is shaping up to be the biggest yet.

Now in its 13th year, the convention has expanded beyond the East Exhibition Halls into the South Halls and Rooftop Exhibition Area. With over 120 companies participating and 50 stages of programming, organisers are clearly aiming to outdo themselves.

Having visited Tokyo for the first time last September, I can tell you without doubt that Tokyo is one of the most interesting places to visit, and an event like this would be absolutely incredible to experience firsthand. The city already buzzes with anime culture on a normal day. Imagine it during the largest anime convention on the planet. And if you’re making the trip, Tokyo has so much more to offer beyond the convention halls. The capsule toy (gachapon) culture is genuinely addictive, with machines on practically every corner dispensing tiny treasures, and the animal cafes offer some of the most unique experiences you’ll find anywhere.

The full stage lineup features performances across four areas: Red, Green, Blue, and White stages. Expect new announcements, cast talks, and live performances throughout the weekend. Sakurazaka46 return as event ambassadors for the second consecutive year, with the “Manga We Want to See Animated Ranking 2026” awards ceremony scheduled for March 4.

Beyond the stages, fan favourites return including official merchandise, the Production Works Gallery (this year focusing on producers), Cosplayer’s World, and a Food Park featuring ten stalls plus Animate’s collaboration food truck.

Tickets cost ¥2,500 per day, with free entry for children under 12. Stage lottery tickets are available until February 24, while general admission runs until March 27.

For more information, visit the official AnimeJapan website.