Summary
- Nicholas Galitzine faced criticism for not being big and muscular enough to play He-Man in the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie.
- Despite the backlash, some fans supported Galitzine’s transformation efforts and believed he was a good fit for the role.
- Comparisons to Chris Hemsworth were made, highlighting the physical expectations for superhero roles in Hollywood.
Nicholas Galitzine was proud of their work for Masters of the Universe. The British actor endured a rigorous workout to transform his body to play He-Man, but some fans were not impressed by his build.
Galitzine was officially announced as He-Man in the upcoming live-action Masters of the Universe in May 2024. The Idea of You actor was delighted with the casting and even shared his excitement playing the role on social media. In a post on Instagram shortly after the official announcement, Galitzine said it was his dream to “play someone of his heart, humor and heroism.” At the time, he said he couldn’t wait to start filming the movie. On Monday, he shared his first official look as He-Man on social media to mark their last day of shooting. His back was on full display to the camera, and his rigorous workout paid off as he noticeably gained muscle. However, some fans are not impressed by his build as He-Man.
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One of the Masters of the Universe stars shows off their physique while in costume with a twist.
Masters of the Universe is one of the most anticipated movies in 2026. And many are looking forward to seeing Galitzine as He-Man. So, the photo he shared on social media teasing his official look as He-Man immediately garnered thousands of reactions. However, many were not happy with his body because they felt that he still looked small and was not bulky enough to portray the superhero with a Power Sword. One said it was a “downgrade” while sharing a throwback photo of Dolph Lundgren as He-Man in the 1987 live-action movie Masters of the Universe. The common criticisms were that Galitzine wasn’t muscular and tall enough. According to them, he looked small and skinny to be He-Man. Another unhappy fan suggested that they should have hired Chris Hemsworth. The Thor actor is widely recognized for his athletic body, highly muscular physique, and towering height. Even if Galitzine is around 6 feet tall, he will look small beside Hemsworth, who is 6 foot 3 inches tall. “Just hire Chris Hemsworth at this point because I am not buying it,” X user Robbed Van Dan (@Bigmanmusic) commented on Galitzine’s photo.
Although many were not satisfied with Galitzine’s body as He-Man, several were supportive of him. They were happy to see him successfully bulk up for Masters of the Universe. Another X user said the Cinderella star “actually looks perfect for the role.” In an interview with W Magazine earlier this year, Galitzine said he had to eat more, lift more weight, and perform many stunts to prepare his body for the role. He was eating 4,000 calories a day, but due to the intense physical activities, he would end up hungry at the end of the day. Prior to Galitzine sharing his official look as He-Man, a video of him flexing his biceps behind a curtain on the set made the rounds on social media. Although fans only saw his shadow, his buff body was evident.
The criticism that Galitzine is too small, short, and skinny to be He-Man stems from comparisons to the comic character. In the comics, He-Man has exaggerated muscles. His hyper-muscular figure is closer to a bodybuilder than a typical actor. It’s evident that Galitzine did his part to transform his body, which should be acknowledged. Hemsworth was also not as bulky before his Thor era, but he has always been muscular and fit. Hemsworth has transformed his body over the years to cater to various roles. For instance, he endured extreme weight loss for the 2015 adventure action film In The Heart of the Sea, where he portrayed Owen Chase, a sailor who survived a shipwreck following a giant whale attack and was left at sea for 90 days. Galitzine and Hemsworth transforming their bodies for their roles only shows their dedication to their craft. Ultimately, performance, presence, and story will matter just as much as muscle mass on screen.
Masters of the Universe will hit theaters on June 5, 2026.
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