Riverdale star Camila Mendes is set for a huge 2026 with the long-awaited release of Masters Of The Universe, the remake/reboot of the 1980s toyline and cartoon series. In gestation for over three decades, the anticipated new version of the franchise is set to mark its mark on next summer’s blockbuster season with Travis Knight (Bumblebee, Kubo & The Two Strings) at the helm.
Mendes, who plays Teela in the new film, was at the premiere of IT: Welcome To Derry earlier this week, and spoke to Deadline about the film and her excitement both for audiences to see it and her own at being part of it, saying:
“I had always dreamed of doing a project like that… I had always known I wanted to do a superhero movie at one point. I like to work out, I’m into fitness, and I’m like, ‘I really want to do something where I get to use that part of myself.’ I really got to do that, here. It was so challenging. I learned so much about my body and about nutrition and fitness. I felt like I was really in my element doing that film. I also just really love the story — the execution was really strong. It has a sense of humour, but it also isn’t completely one big joke. The tone of it, they just did such a good job with striking that balance. I think people are really going to like it.”
Mendes also spoke about her training for the film alongside Nicholas Galtizine (The Idea of You), who plays Prince Adam/He-Man in the film, to Variety, adding:
“He’s such a sweetheart. I’m so excited for people to see him in this movie. It’s really something special. I was lucky enough to see the transformation from the beginning. We were there for two months in London, training every day together. We were in it together the whole time.”
Mendes further said that she had a “few big stunts” that she got to practice for months, which she describes as a “very rigorous training process.”
She was also asked about the potential for sequels to the film should it find success next summer, saying, “That I cannot say. But, hopefully, there will be more. We’ll see what happens.”
Alongside Galitzine and Mendes, the remake also stars Jared Leto as Skeletor, Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms/Duncan, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Morena Baccarin as the Sorceress of Grayskull, James Purefoy as King Randor, Charlotte Riley as Queen Marlena, and Kristen Wiig as the voice of Roboto.
Masters Of The Universe opens in cinemas on June 5th.
