Full Breakdown
Masters of the Universe (2026) Score: A Maximalist Fusion of Rock, Pop, and 80s Nostalgia
6/7/2026, 8:57:37 PM
Scoring the Film: Pemberton, May, and the Queen Connection
Composer Daniel Pemberton, who typically shuns franchise work, agreed to score the 2026 Masters of the Universe after director Travis Knight promised a Queen- and ABBA-style soundtrack. While tracking early cues at Abbey Road Studios, Pemberton met Queen guitarist Brian May, who co-crafted the three-minute, choir-laden theme “Electrica.” The score also weaves Queen’s 1986 anthem “Princes of the Universe,” originally written for the Highlander franchise, into a climactic battle sequence.
Reviving He-Man: 1980s Roots and 2026 Vision
Drawing on the 1982 He-Man toyline and its 1985 film, Knight preserves the original’s tongue-in-cheek tone while updating visuals for 2026. He emphasizes “unashamed fun” and bright 80s aesthetics, matching the maximalist score to He-Man’s transformation from Adam to planet-saving hero.
Principal Creators and Studios
Key contributors include composer Daniel Pemberton, Queen guitarist Brian May, director Travis Knight, and the production partners Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Musicals. Lead actor Nicholas Galitzine portrays He-Man, while Jared Leto plays Skeletor.
Score Scale and Musical Forces
The 140-minute film features 35 original cues, a 100-voice choir, an 80-musician orchestra, and a rock band, culminating in the three-minute “Electrica” track that blends synths, guitars, and choral grandeur.
Creative Intent and Studio Position
Pemberton said his aim was to blend hard-rock weight with bright 80s Euro pop, producing a “flamboyant, theatrical, over-the-top” score that feels sincere rather than ironic. Knight’s brief stressed a “clear vision” of fun-first storytelling, and the studios framed the partnership as a bridge between classic rock heritage and modern blockbuster scoring.
Challenges Integrating Legacy Themes
Pemberton noted that attempts to weave the original He-Man cartoon theme by Shuki Levy, Haim Saban, and Lou Scheimer into the score proved “very difficult” within action beats, reflecting broader industry criticism that contemporary franchise music often sacrifices overt emotional cues for restraint.
Direct Voices from the Composer
- “As he was playing it, I was like, ‘This is actually the equivalent of the Sword of Power from the Master universe because it’s an instrument forged in flame,’ so to speak.” — Daniel Pemberton, Composer
- “I wanted a grown man to feel like a small boy again, and I wanted a small boy to feel like a grown man.” — Daniel Pemberton, Composer
- “I wanted something that had the weight and seriousness of a hard-rock track mixed with the color, campiness and slight cheese of a poppy Euro song.” — Daniel Pemberton, Composer
- “It can’t be understated how important the director is to a good score, who supports and trusts you and allows you to go crazy. Travis definitely let me go crazy!” — Daniel Pemberton, Composer
Release and Potential Influence
The film opens worldwide this week, and its bold score may influence future franchise composers to embrace overt theatricality.
