It’s good news and bad news for thelive-actionMasters of the Universeremake, depending on how you feel about the filmmakerMcG. Sony Pictures announced yesterday that the reboot will be released in theaters on June 18, 2025, butEWreports that the film is also now without a director. TheCharlie’s AngelsandTerminator: Salvationfilmmaker McG has been attached to theMasters of the Universereboot since early 2016, but it appears he’s since fallen off the project.
A live-action take on the popularHe-Mancartoon has been in development for years now, but has been somewhat cursed. Warner Bros. dropped the property in 2009, but then Sony picked it up and setG.I. Joe: RetaliationfilmmakerJon M. Chuto direct. That obviously didn’t pan out, and in the meantime Sony has had an army of writers trying to tackle the screenplay.
Per EW,Man of SteelandBatman BeginsscribeDavid S. Goyeris now on the screenwriting case as Sony is meeting with potential directors. In 2014 the studio considered filmmakers likeHarald Zwart(The Karate Kidremake),Chris McKay(The LEGO Batman Movie), andMike Cahill(Another Earth), so possible they’ll go back to that well or maybe they’ll search for fresh blood—McKay is likely out of the running, as he’s currently attached to a live-actionNightwingmovie at Warner Bros.
It’ll be interesting to see who Sony sets to direct this film, which one imagines will set the expectation for what kind of blockbuster this is meant to be. One could go a variety of ways—skew young and cartoony like theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesmovies, or aim for something a bit grittier andGame of Thrones-esque. It’s no secret that fantasy projects are a gamble for studios—sometimes you getLord of the Ringsand sometimes you getWarcraft—but Sony needs a new big franchise badly, so they’ll no doubt put their best foot forward here.
What do you think folks? Who should directMasters of the Universe? Sound off in the comments below.
