Michael Bay To Helm HE-MAN Movie; Casts Unlikely Lead, Angers Internet

It’s no surprise to anyone that Hollywood, more specifically Sony Pictures, is itching to revamp their 1987 live-action Dolph Lundgren He-Man film Masters of the Universe. After all, in 2008 a line of He-Man action figures were released and in 2012 DC Comics slowly rolled out a six-issue limited series comic book, which has since grown in popularity; bringing back old fans while gaining new.

Roughly one month ago The Wrap reported a slew of possible directors, suggesting Sony Pictures is actively pursuing this project for a 2017 release. The list of possible directors included: Harald Zwart (The Mortal Instruments), Rian Johnson (Looper), Joe Cornish (Attack the Block) and Mike Cahill (Another Earth).

However, an action director we’re all familiar with has officially been signed on. With Michael Bay’s newly produced, hotly anticipated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film set to be released this August, it's no surprise that Bay would want to dabble in yet another [popular 80s] story from your childhood; this time taking on the role of the director.  There’s no word yet on if he’ll direct the film for Sony Pictures or if the project will eventually migrate over to Bay’s recent home at Paramount, where he’s had much success with the Transformers series.

While several actors are currently in the running for the lead of He-Man himself including Channing Tatum (Magic Mike), Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises), Gerard Butler (300), and even Chris Hemsworth (Thor; which would cause intense animosity between Marvel and DC) the current heavyweight, most likely contender, albeit strangest choice is Bay alum Shia LaBeouf. LaBeouf recently “retired” from public life following his plagiarism scandal, however, with his latest Lars Von Trier film Nymphomaniac and just completing Fury, a WWII action film starring Brad Pitt, he’s finding great difficulties with staying secluded.

The most prudent question for any He-Man fan may be: Who is set to play Skeletor? With the recently reported news that Will Farrell is in “serious talks" to play He-Man’s archenemy, lord of destruction, and ruler of Snake Mountain, we have to wonder what kind of movie Michael Bay’s film will turn out to be. All the weight currently rests on the screenplay. It’s rumored -- and I'm not sure how much I believe this -- that the writer of Batman and Robin, Lost in Space and A Beautiful Mind has been approached. 

And just in-case all this news infuriated you to no end and caused your blood pressure to skyrocket, you're in luck: None of this is true. While Sony has been talking about creating a new live-action He-Man film, Michael Bay and Shia LaBeouf are nowhere near this project. Take a deep breath. From all of us at Willow Creek Cinemas Twelve, Happy April First!