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Noah Centineo Has the Power of Grayskull

The rising star is about to become a Master of the Universe.
Noah Centineo
Netflix
By  · Published on March 21st, 2019

We’ve been watching internet thirst magnet Noah Centineo for a while now. Since the heartthrob stole our hearts in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Sierra Burgess Is a Loser, we’ve wanted to see him ascend the Hollywood ladder and wow the masses with his dreamy smile and charismatic charm even more than he has already. Well, Centineo’s star is about to shine even brighter, as he’s about to command the power of Grayskull.

According to Variety, Centineo is being lined up to play the heroic He-Man in Sony’s long-gestating Masters of the Universe reboot. Aaron and Adam Nee are on board to co-direct the feature, which is based on the popular Mattel toy line that spawned several comics, several animated series’, and an ‘80s live-action movie starring Dolph Lundgren.

Admittedly, Centineo is a surprise choice for this role. The prototypical He-Man is blonde and buff, so Centineo is unlike previous incarnations in that regard. Kellen Lutz, who was previously attached to star, seems like a more conventional choice. I’m sure he’d have been great in his own right, but it wasn’t to be.

Of course, that’s not to say Centineo has been miscast. We won’t know that until we see the movie. Plus, cinema is about evolution and surprise, and Centineo is taking the world by storm at the moment. If Sony is looking to build a franchise that appeals to younger viewers, centering it around one of the most popular young actors on the planet is a smart move. I suspect the studio will want to milk this IP for all its worth since the merchandising opportunities are freaking huge.

Maybe he doesn’t fit traditional He-Man criteria, but who’s to say that Centineo’s take on the character won’t make for a compelling update? Masters of the Universe has existed for over 30 years and some experimentation could be exciting. Or maybe he’ll dye his hair or don a wig? These are the questions that most of us will ponder until we’ve seen some confirmation photos.

Regardless of what color his hair will be, it’s great to see the actor branching out. This role marks a change of pace from the comedies and teen dramas that Centineo is synonymous with. While Masters of the Universe will be family-friendly fun, it will allow him to showcase his abilities in an action-adventure blockbuster. We predicted that he would become a superhero eventually, and now it’s happening.

At the same time, a character like He-Man perfectly complements the wholesome and undeniable charm that Centineo is already known and loved for. In a way, Masters of the Universe feels like a natural progression. He-Man is the ultimate nice guy after all, and so is Centineo. However, in this one, we’ll also get to see him go topless, wield a sword and ride a battle cat. That’s something we won’t see him do in the To All the Boys… sequel.

More than anything, it’s great to see this movie finally pressing ahead. It’s been too long since He-Man last graced the big screen with his presence. This franchise’s mythology is a gold mine for providing fantastical escapist fun, and the world could always use more of that.

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Kieran is a Contributor to the website you're currently reading. He also loves the movie Varsity Blues.