Looks like the process of getting 1980s fantasy/sci-fi mash-up action figure juggernaut He-Man and the Masters of the Universe off the cinematic ground continues at Sony. The last we heard about the project was that a script had been turned in by director Jeff Wadlow (Kick-Ass 2) and Terry Rosio (Pirates of the Caribbean) around Christmas of last year—reportedly to great enthusiasm from the executives at the company. After all, Sony may or may not be in the market for a big tentpole franchise of their own to compete with Universal, Disney, and Warner Brothers, all of whom have several under their belt. And then…nada.
Now it’s being reported that Sony has hired writer Christopher Yost to do a re-write of that script. It makes total sense for Sony to tap Yost for this gig, given his experience with big, buff, blonde godlike warriors who wield mystic weapons. For those of you who are unaware, Yost contributed to writing the original 2011 Thor film for Marvel Studios, as well as contributed a re-write to Thor: The Dark World. He and his writing partner Chris Kyle were also tapped to write the third film in the Asgardian trilogy, 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok.
Before writing live-action films for Marvel, Christopher Yost wrote for animated shows like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Batman, and was the story editor and head writer on the Fantastic Four animated series that aired on Cartoon Network during 2006 in addition to Iron Man: Armored Adventures. He was also the head writer of Marvel Animation’s The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes which aired on Disney XD from 2010-2012.
So the guy knows how to transition from kid’s animated properties into translating them for the big screen.
Along with G.I. Joe and Transformers, the Masters of the Universe toyline and animated show was an enormous money machine for Mattel in the ’80s, and they’ve been trying to find a way to revive that series as a film ever since the previously mentioned properties made tons of cash for their studios. Only time will tell if Yost’s involvement means this one finally gets out of development hell, hopefully erasing all memory of the 1987 live-action version of He-Man starring Dolph Lundgren from everyone’s minds.
Are you looking forward to a He-Man film? Let’s hear it in the comments
HT: Variety
