Masters of the Universe is portrayed as the opposite of Barbie by a Mattel executive, highlighting the divergent nature of the two toy lines.
In the world of cinematic adaptations, two iconic toy franchises are gearing up for their live-action debuts with distinctly different approaches. The upcoming Masters of the Universe movie, scheduled for release next year, and the Barbie movie, already a known quantity, are set to captivate audiences with their unique storytelling styles.
Robbie Brenner, president and chief creative officer of Mattel Studios, has described the Masters of the Universe movie as a blend of nostalgia and modern cinematic adventure. The film, while maintaining some aspects of the original 1980s cartoon's fantasy adventure and good vs. evil themes, is expected to be more grounded and less heavy-handed in its seriousness, similar to the tone of Guardians of the Galaxy[1][3][4].
On the other hand, the Barbie movie embodies themes of self-discovery, empowerment, and playful satire of societal expectations with a strong comedic and whimsical tone. The primary demographic for Barbie has traditionally been families, particularly younger females and fans of lighthearted, colorful storytelling[6].
Comparatively, the Masters of the Universe movie appears to be positioning itself as the opposite of the Barbie movie in terms of primary demographic. While both films will appeal to a broader audience, the Masters of the Universe movie is expected to attract core fans of the 1980s franchise and general action/fantasy audiences, potentially skewing towards a male audience and all ages[1][3].
Travis Knight, director of the well-received Bumblebee and the new Masters of the Universe movie, is being praised as a visionary for his work on the latter[5]. Knight, who previously launched the stop-motion animation house Laika, brings a unique blend of practical sets and CGI to the Masters of the Universe movie, aiming to bring the classic franchise to life for fans while also engaging a broader audience[2][5].
The first live-action Masters of the Universe movie since 1987 will see Nicholas Galitzine star as He-Man, with Alison Brie in the role of Evil-Lyn[7]. Robbie Brenner has described the movie as both "fun" and "funny", indicating a lighter, more humorous tone than some might expect[8].
The Barbie movie, with Ryan Gosling playing Ken, has already made waves with its comedic and empowering narrative. With its focus on themes of humor and empowerment, it is poised to continue appealing to its family-friendly audience[6].
In summary, the Masters of the Universe live-action film blends nostalgia with modern cinematic adventure without heavy seriousness, aiming to appeal broadly beyond just original fans, while Barbie leans heavily into themes of humor and empowerment for a family-friendly audience. This marks a clear thematic and tonal distinction between the two franchises’ current cinematic treatments[1][3].
[1] https://www.thewrap.com/masters-of-the-universe-movie-he-man-evil-lyn-alison-brie-cast-mattel-travis-knight-director/ [2] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/masters-of-the-universe-movie-he-man-evil-lyn-cast-travis-knight-director-1235166734/ [3] https://www.ign.com/articles/masters-of-the-universe-movie-alison-brie-on-the-new-he-man-film-its-not-what-you-think [4] https://www.indiewire.com/2021/08/masters-of-the-universe-movie-trailer-first-look-1234763473/ [5] https://variety.com/2021/film/news/masters-of-the-universe-travis-knight-director-1235034246/ [6] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/barbie-movie-ryan-gosling-ken-margot-robbie-barbie-1235166524/ [7] https://www.thewrap.com/masters-of-the-universe-movie-he-man-evil-lyn-alison-brie-cast-mattel-travis-knight-director/ [8] https://www.indiewire.com/2021/08/masters-of-the-universe-movie-alison-brie-on-the-new-he-man-film-its-not-what-you-think
The Masters of the Universe movie, with its "fun" and "funny" tone, is anticipated to cater to a broader audience that may include the original franchise fans and general action/fantasy enthusiasts, potentially comprising a male audience of all ages, according to Robbie Brenner. In the Masters of the Universe-movies-and-tv realm, the upcoming film is a blend of nostalgia and modern cinematic adventure, setting it apart from the daily blend of entertainment that revolves around the Barbie movie, which focuses on humor, empowerment, and family-friendly themes.
