What Happened to Noah Centineo's Masters of the Universe Exit?
Noah Centineo was initially cast as He-Man in a live-action 'Masters of the Universe' film in 2019, but exited the project in 2021 due to prolonged development, creative changes, and his contract expiring. The film subsequently moved through different studios and actors before Nicholas Galitzine ultimately took on the role for the 2026 Amazon MGM Studios release.
Quick Answer
Noah Centineo departed the role of He-Man in the 'Masters of the Universe' live-action film in April 2021, citing the project's extended development, continuous script tweaking, and the expiration of his contract. After his exit, the film underwent further changes, with Kyle Allen briefly attached before Nicholas Galitzine was cast as He-Man for the version released by Amazon MGM Studios in June 2026. Centineo has since moved on to other significant projects, including 'Black Adam' and upcoming films like 'Street Fighter' and 'Gundam'.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Noah Centineo in Talks for He-Man
Reports emerge that Noah Centineo is in talks to play He-Man in Sony Pictures and Mattel Films' live-action 'Masters of the Universe' movie.
Centineo Confirms He-Man Casting
Noah Centineo officially confirms his casting as Prince Adam/He-Man on 'The Tonight Show', expressing his excitement for the role.
Film Pulled from Sony's Schedule
The 'Masters of the Universe' film is removed from Sony's release schedule, which had initially targeted a March 2021 debut, indicating early production troubles.
Noah Centineo Exits He-Man Role
A representative for Noah Centineo confirms to Collider that he is no longer attached to the 'Masters of the Universe' project, citing prolonged delays and his contract expiring.
Netflix Acquires Rights, Kyle Allen Cast as He-Man
Netflix officially acquires the film rights from Sony and announces Kyle Allen ('West Side Story') as the new He-Man, with the Nee Brothers still set to direct.
Netflix Cancels 'Masters of the Universe' Film
Netflix cancels the live-action 'Masters of the Universe' film, reportedly after spending $30 million on development, due to budgetary concerns. Mattel begins searching for a new studio.
Amazon MGM Studios Eyes Project
Amazon MGM Studios is reported to be in talks to acquire the film rights, potentially with a revised budget and script.
Nicholas Galitzine Cast as He-Man, Travis Knight Directs
Amazon MGM Studios officially announces Nicholas Galitzine as the new He-Man and Travis Knight as the director, with a theatrical release date set for June 2026.
Principal Photography Begins
Filming for the Amazon MGM Studios 'Masters of the Universe' movie officially begins in London, England.
Filming Wraps
Nicholas Galitzine confirms on Instagram that principal photography for 'Masters of the Universe' has officially wrapped.
Official Trailer Released
Amazon MGM Studios releases the official trailer for 'Masters of the Universe', featuring Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man.
Film Premieres in Los Angeles
The 'Masters of the Universe' film has its premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
Theatrical Release
The live-action 'Masters of the Universe' film is released in theaters in the United States by Amazon MGM Studios.
Streaming Release on Prime Video
The 'Masters of the Universe' film becomes available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Centineo Reflects on Exit and Current Projects
Noah Centineo discusses his near-miss with the He-Man role on a podcast, explaining the reasons for his departure and expressing admiration for Nicholas Galitzine's performance. He is currently attached to major upcoming projects like 'Street Fighter', 'John Rambo', and 'Gundam'.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Noah Centineo's highly anticipated casting as He-Man in the live-action 'Masters of the Universe' film was announced in March 2019, generating considerable buzz for the project then under Sony Pictures and Mattel Films. Centineo himself confirmed his excitement, detailing his intense 6,000-calorie-a-day diet for the role. However, the film was plagued by what Centineo described as constant 'tweaking' and delays, pushing back its initial planned release date of March 2021. This prolonged period of development hell ultimately led to Centineo's departure in April 2021, as his contract for the role expired.
Following Centineo's exit, the 'Masters of the Universe' project continued its tumultuous journey. In January 2022, Netflix acquired the rights from Sony and announced Kyle Allen as the new He-Man, with the Nee Brothers (Aaron and Adam Nee) still attached to direct and co-write the screenplay. Production was slated to begin in summer 2022, then pushed to spring 2023, but in July 2023, Netflix canceled the film due to budgetary concerns, reportedly after spending $30 million on development.
Mattel Films then sought a new studio, and in November 2023, Amazon MGM Studios entered negotiations to acquire the film rights. By May 2024, Amazon MGM Studios officially picked up the project, with Travis Knight (known for 'Bumblebee') taking over as director and Nicholas Galitzine cast as the new He-Man. Filming commenced in London in January 2025 and wrapped in June 2025.
The 'Masters of the Universe' film, starring Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, and Jared Leto as Skeletor, premiered on May 18, 2026, and was released in US theaters by Amazon MGM Studios on June 5, 2026. The film, with a reported production budget of $170 million, grossed $114 million worldwide, underperforming at the box office. It later debuted on Amazon Prime Video on July 22, 2026, where it found significant streaming success.
Noah Centineo has expressed no ill will regarding the recasting, praising Galitzine's performance and acknowledging the difficulty of the role. Since his departure from 'Masters of the Universe', Centineo has expanded his career, notably appearing as Atom Smasher in the DC Extended Universe film 'Black Adam' (2022) and starring in the Netflix series 'The Recruit' (2022-2025). As of August 2026, he is attached to several major upcoming projects, including playing Ken Masters in the 'Street Fighter' reboot film (2026), a younger John Rambo in a prequel film, and a role in the live-action 'Gundam' adaptation. His career trajectory has shifted significantly towards action and franchise roles, demonstrating that his 'Masters of the Universe' exit was a detour rather than a dead end.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Noah Centineo's Masters of the Universe Exit made different choices?