Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Masters of the Universe (2026)
The new Masters of the Universe movie has been released, bringing He-Man and the heroes and villains of Eternia back to the big screen. A major space/fantasy epic evoking the classic animated series of the 1980s, it’s also fun to look at some of the key ways in which the new Masters of the Universe movie parallels Marvel Studios’ Thor franchise.
It’s not all that surprising that Masters of the Universe and the Thor movies have so many similarities. After all, they both share a lot of the same DNA with mythical heroes, magical weapons, superpowered allies, and epic conflicts spanning multiple planets across the galaxy. Likewise, both projects center around an immensely strong (and blond) protagonist who wields one of the most powerful weapons in their respective universe.
In more ways than one, the new Masters of the Universe movie feels like a spiritual cousin to Marvel’s Thor movies (which is by no means a bad thing). Keeping that in mind, here are 10 of the biggest and most fun parallels we found in the new movie.
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Eternia & Asgard – Where Legends Are Real
In Masters of the Universe, Adam describes Eternia as a place where legends and bedtime stories are real. Likewise, the world is proven to be filled with magical relics, monsters like dragons and griffins, and ancient powers. However, the fantasy is also blended with some major science fiction elements, including spaceships, robots, energy weapons, and more.
That’s remarkably similar to Asgard in the MCU. The Marvel films similarly frame Asgardian technology as a blend of magic and advanced science, though the realm very much still functions like a fantasy kingdom featuring gods and warriors of myth and legend. Likewise, the Kingdom of Eternos shares many visual and thematic similarities with Asgard.
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Rainbow Portals To Earth
When Jared Leto’s Skeletor and his Evil Warriors invade Eternia, the Sorceress and Queen Marlena send 10-year-old Prince Adam to Earth via a magic portal. Not unlike Asgard’s Bifrost in the MCU, travel through the portal is full of multicolored energy as Adam and the Sword of Power are separated before landing on Earth.
Similarly, Thor had to go in search of his hammer Mjölnir after he was banished to Earth by his father. That said, Adam’s time on Earth before reclaiming the Sword of Power took 15 years, a much longer duration in comparison to the God of Thunder.
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Performance Issues With Powerful Weapons
Neither Adam nor Thor immediately regains access to their full power after reclaiming their legendary weapons. In Thor, the God of Thunder eventually finds Mjolnir but discovers he can no longer lift it as he’s yet to prove himself worthy.
Likewise, Masters of the Universe sees Adam finally reclaiming the Sword of Power after discovering it in a comic book store. While he tries to use the Sword’s power right then and there to go back home to Eternia, nothing happens as he didn’t say the right words on his first try (though he did manage to send a signal to Eternia).
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A Collection Of Electic Warrior Allies
Neither Adam nor Thor fights alone. Both heroes are surrounded by colorful allies with unique skills and abilities, each with their own entertaining personalities. Adam has Teela, Man-At-Arms, and the Heroic Warriors, a group filled with distinctive fighters like Fisto, Ram Man, Roboto, and Mekanek.
Thor Odinson has a similarly diverse collection of companions. Lady Sif and the Warriors Three serve as his earliest allies, while later films in the MCU add even more characters, like Valkyrie, Korg, and of course the numerous colorful and powered heroes on Earth whom Thor calls friends and allies in the Avengers movies.
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Major Spaceship Battles
Again, despite their fantasy roots, both franchises also embrace large-scale science-fiction elements, including epic spaceship battles. Masters of the Universe features several impressive ship sequences, including the heroes’ escape from Subternia in a Talon Fighter while pursued by Skeletor’s forces in Rotons and Fright Fighters. While He-Man may look like a medieval warrior with his leather armor and Sword of Power, that doesn’t stop him from hopping on a hoverbike known as a Sky-Sled to take out Skeletor’s minions.
Likewise, the Thor franchise is no stranger to ship battles either. Thor: The Dark World features a dramatic breakout mission involving Asgardian ships, while Thor: Ragnarok sees the God of Thunder and the Revengers escaping from Sakaar and the forces of The Grandmaster.
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Idris Elba – Royal Warrior
One of the most amusing and clearest parallels comes from the casting of Idris Elba in both franchises.
In Masters of the Universe, Elba plays Man-At-Arms, one of Eternos’ greatest warriors and the loyal captain of King Randor’ royal guard. He’s a veteran fighter who serves as a key mentor to Adam, while also being Teela’s adoptive father.
As such, Elba’s latest role as Man-At-Arms is remarkably similar to Marvel’s Heimdall in the Thor franchise. Heimdall serves the royal family of Asgard as the protector of the Bifrost with his legendary All-Sight, one of Asgard’s greatest and most loyal defenders. As such, it’s pretty dang cool that Idris Elba portrays a noble warrior devoted to protecting his kingdom in both of these franchises.
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“Whosoever Wields (Insert Weapon) Shall Possess The Power”
The major similarities between Mjolnir and the Sword of Power are easy to spot when looking at the language used for both ancient weapons. In the Marvel Universe, Thor’s hammer carries the iconic enchantment from Odin, stating that “whosever wields this hammer, should they be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.” Likewise, Masters of the Universe sees Adam using practically the same words: “whosoever wields the sword shall possess The Power.” Both weapons represent cosmic responsibility and the need for their wielders to be chosen and deemed worthy to wield them.
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The Power Comes From Within
Perhaps the most significant parallel involves the intersection between Adam and Thor’s personal journeys and the shared revelation of where their power actually resides.
Thor: Ragnarok reveals that Thor’s true power never came from Mjolnir itself. Instead, the hammer merely helped him focus his abilities as a conduit that always existed within him. As such, Thor comes to this realization via a vision from Odin when he’s on the verge of defeat fighting Hela.
Masters of the Universe delivers a nearly identical revelation. Dying and on the verge of defeat fighting Skeletor, Adam ultimately learns that the Sword of Power isn’t the true source of his strength. Instead, the power exists within him as the chosen Champion of Grayskull, with the Sorceress helping him realize this in a similar mid-battle vision.
In both stories, both Adam and Thor are shown embracing their full potential and power, surpassing any sort of dependence on their signature weapons (definitely my favorite parallel between the two franchises).
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Big Green Animated & Armored Partners
Every hero needs a powerful companion, and both franchises happen to feature giant green allies for Adam and Thor. Adam’s closest companion is the large green tiger named Cringer, who transforms into the mighty armored Battle Cat when Adam becomes He-Man. Likewise, the God of Thunder gets his own big green ally in Thor: Ragnarok with Bruce Banner’s Hulk. Like Battle Cat, Hulk is large, green, and even receives his own armor on Sakaar while serving as the Grandmaster’s gladiatorial champion.
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Classic Rock Themes Elevate Their Best Moments
Thor: Ragnarok famously uses Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” during some of the movie’s most exciting action sequences, with the lyrics and references to Norse myth making the song a perfect fit for the God of Thunder’s MCU franchise.
Likewise, Masters of the Universe follows a similar approach by featuring Queen’s “Princes of the Universe” during its climactic third act with the heroes’ breakout and final battle against Skeletor’s forces. While it was originally made for 1986’s Highlander, the song is a great fit for He-Man as well. As a fun addition, it’s been confirmed that Queen guitarist Brian May played electric guitar for composer Daniel Pemberton’s score.
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- Created by
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Kevin Feige
- First Film
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Thor
- Latest Film
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Thor: Love and Thunder
- Cast
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Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Tessa Thompson, Idris Elba, Rene Russo, Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgård, Taika Waititi
- Movie(s)
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Thor, Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Ragnarok, Thor: Love and Thunder
- Character(s)
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Thor, Loki, Jane Foster, Valkyrie, Odin, Heimdall
The Thor franchise is a key component of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), focusing on the Asgardian god of thunder, Thor Odinson. The series explores Thor’s journey from a headstrong prince to a wise and powerful hero who plays a central role in the Avengers and the broader MCU narrative. The franchise is known for its blend of epic fantasy, Norse mythology, and humor, particularly in the later films directed by Taika Waititi.