Masters of the Universe sets streaming premiere date — mark your calendars

So, the latest live-action 'Masters of the Universe' flick has had a bit of a rollercoaster ride. It didn't exactly set the box office on fire – more a polite smoulder, truth be told – but it still managed to pick up a loyal crowd. Critics and punters who actually turned up seemed fairly chuffed with it, giving the fantasy reboot a warm enough reception.

Now, after what you'd politely call an underwhelming run in cinemas, it's getting an early dose of streaming life. Prime Video has swooped in and announced they'll be plonking 'Masters of the Universe' straight onto their platform from 22 July. There's no faffing about with the usual digital rental or purchase windows; this one is going directly to the streamer. Bit of a move from Amazon, obviously hoping to jack up those viewership numbers sharpish, rather than drag out its release schedule until everyone's forgotten it ever existed.

What Happens in This Version? (And Who's In It?)

This outing gives us a younger take on Prince Adam, clocking in at just 10 years old when he takes a nosedive to Earth in a spaceship and gets separated from his Power Sword. You know – that famous slab of weaponry that's basically his lifeline to Eternia.

Two decades later, Adam finally tracks down his missing sword, and – as you do – gets yanked back across the cosmos to defend Eternia from Skeletor, who remains about as cuddly as a tax bill. Of course, Adam can't just flex his biceps and call it a day. The plot has him digging through family secrets and working out who he actually is, all as a warm-up before transforming into He-Man: 'the most powerful man in the Universe!'

• Prince Adam: Crashed on Earth at 10, swordless, no idea about his past
• The Power Sword: The only link to Eternia, lost then found 20 years later
• Skeletor: Still evil, still bone-headed, determined to wreck everything on Eternia
• He-Man: The final form, after Adam goes through the usual trauma and self-discovery

The film's picking up again on streaming from 22 July. How many new fans will actually show up remains to be seen.