‘Masters of the Universe’ Taps Christopher Yost to Rewrite Screenplay

It’s been a while since we had an update on Sony’s Masters of the Universe reboot/revival/whatever. Last we heard, Kick-Ass 2 writer/director Jeff Wadlow had completed a script, while G.I. Joe: Retaliation director Jon M. Chu departed the project. While the film is still in development without a director, Sony has brought on Thor: Ragnarok scribe and recent New Warriors writer Christopher Yost to rewrite the screenplay.

Variety reports that Yost is hopping from Asgard over to Eternia to write a new draft of the screenplay, with previous drafts written by Wadlow and Terry Rossio. The last time He-Man was brought to the big screen, it resulted in the hilariously silly 1987 cult classic Masters of the Universe, starring Dolph Lundgren as Prince Adam and Frank Langella as Skeletor.

The original He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon series ran from 1983 to 1985. Set on the fictional planet of Eternia (possible movie title: From Here to Eternia; sorry), the story centers on Prince Adam, a warrior who has the ability to transform into his heroic alter-ego, He-Man. Fighting alongside Battle Cat, The Sorceress, Teela, Man-at-Arms and Orko, He-Man attempts to stop his arch-nemesis Skeletor from conquering Castle Grayskull and uncovering the mystical secrets — and power — within.

Yost seems like the perfect fit given his work in the similarly fantastical realm of Asgard, and it’s not unusual for Sony to go through so many writers on a potential blockbuster like this, especially since they’ll really need to get this one right. Yost contributed to the screenplays for Thor and Thor: The Dark World, and recently co-wrote the screenplay for Thor: Ragnarok with Craig Kyle.

Sony hasn’t scheduled a release date for Masters of the Universe just yet, nor have we had an update on potential directors for the project.