Report: Jared Leto Underwhelmed by Masters of the Universe
As Amazon MGM and Sony ramp up the final push for the long-awaited Masters of the Universe reboot, Jared Leto is reportedly not thrilled — and has been a conspicuous no-show at key promo events ahead of the June 5 release.
Let's talk about the saga that is Masters of the Universe, and more specifically, Jared Leto apparently wanting as little to do with it as possible. You'd think playing Skeletor – the main villain and honestly the most interesting part of the whole thing – would have him out front banging the drum. Instead? He's been almost invisible in every promo, which is a bit odd, even for Leto.
Where's Jared?
We're fully into the home stretch for the film – releases 5 June – and Amazon MGM together with Sony are really pushing the marketing now. Trailers are everywhere, there are posters, and the cast have been wheeled out for the standard behind-the-scenes chitchat. Except, not all of them. Leto hasn't posted a single thing about the film on his socials. And he skipped both CinemaCon and the big premiere in LA. Not even a token wave to the fans.
According to a piece from Puck News, a source claims Leto 'wasn't thrilled with the film.' Supposedly, this isn't just diva behaviour – it might be actual frustration. The studio, not wanting to draw attention to the drama (or him, really), is reportedly 'downplaying' Leto's connection to the movie despite the fact he's top billing – and frankly, their biggest star in the cast.
The Tricky Backdrop
- Jared Leto won an Oscar not that long ago, but his blockbuster luck hasn't held up. His recent big swings, like Tron: Ares last year, have all flopped at the box office.
- Adding fuel to the awkwardness, there were some very serious allegations made against Leto last year, which he's denied. Still, it's yet another PR nightmare for studios counting on him to help sell their films.
- Amazon, with a rumoured $175 million sunk into this project, is hoping for a $25-35 million opening weekend. Let's be honest, by blockbuster standards, that's shaky maths.
So, Is the Movie Any Good?
Despite all the hand-wringing off screen, early reactions out of the gate have been weirdly positive – especially for a Masters of the Universe reboot. And there's a little twist of irony: critics actually singled out Leto as Skeletor as a highlight. This might just be one of those films where the chaos behind the scenes is more entertaining than the final product.
What's the Story?
If you're after plot, here's the deal: Prince Adam is dragged back to Eternia after swanning off for 15 years, thanks to the Sword of Power. And of course, Skeletor's been running amok the whole time, so Adam's forced to step up as He-Man and take him on. Standard stuff, but with a lot of high-gloss effects and CGI.
Cast Breakdown (Names You'll Actually Recognise)
- Nicholas Galitzine: Prince Adam/He-Man
- Camila Mendes: Teela
- Idris Elba: Man-At-Arms
- Alison Brie: Evil-Lyn
- Morena Baccarin, James Purefoy, Kristen Wiig (voice): Supporting roles
To sum up: a massive, expensive gamble, a star who's keeping his distance, and a film that might just surprise everyone if it can get past its own drama.