Director Reveals Jared Leto’s Skeletor Almost Wore a “Gold Mask” in Masters of the Universe

24 May at 21:30 Comment Views: 24

A common grievance among those who recall cinema before the rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that contemporary films often lack visual luster. Without singling out any particular studio, the trend is undeniable: modern blockbusters frequently suffer from a desaturated, muddy aesthetic. One need only compare the latest Spider-Man: Brand New trailer to its source material to see how stark the contrast in vibrancy truly is.

Yet, an unexpected contender is bucking this trend: Masters of the Universe. Director Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings, Bumblebee) has reimagined the iconic ’80s property for the modern era, skillfully sidestepping the dull color grading that plagues so many contemporary releases. While official reviews remain under embargo until June, our exclusive glimpse for Polygon’s 2026 Summer Preview reveals a film that is not only exhilarating but visually arresting. Its bold palette and sharp lighting are a refreshing departure from the usual monochromatic gloom. And, despite the discourse surrounding Jared Leto, his portrayal of Skeletor is undeniably fantastic.

I caught up with Knight to discuss how he crafted one of the most visually stunning blockbusters of the decade. Read our exchange below, and stay tuned for further insights from the cast as we approach the film’s premiere.

Polygon: Visually, Masters of the Universe is striking. What is your philosophy for creating such a dynamic, crisp aesthetic that avoids the typical “gray” look?

Travis Knight: Much of it stems from my background in animation. I approach filmmaking with a visual sensibility developed long before I moved into directing. It comes down to design—how you utilize color, light, and camera movement to guide the audience’s gaze. In animation, you are constantly choreographing where the viewer’s eye goes within a frame. I applied those same principles here to ensure clarity and intention in every shot.

Eternia is inherently a riot of color—it’s polychromatic and intense. While we wanted to capture that “retina-burning” vibrancy, the challenge during production is that projects often get diluted. I had to act as a North Star for the team, consistently pushing back against the urge to mute the colors. It was essential to maintain that initial vision.

I was fortunate to have an incredible team of artists. Blending visual effects with practical elements was vital, and I had extraordinary collaborators in our VFX supervisors, Tim Burke and David Vickery, who were instrumental in keeping those worlds feeling cohesive.

Skeletor look

Skeletor’s face is remarkably expressive. From a technical standpoint, how did you achieve that lifelike quality?

Travis Knight: The methodology was clear from the start: Skeletor requires a skull for a face. Early iterations suggested a gold mask, but I was adamant that he shouldn’t be wearing one. He is a talking, emoting skull. That necessitated CG, as you obviously can’t use prosthetics to replicate a living skeletal face.

However, we wanted an authentic performance rather than standard motion capture. We wanted a human to inhabit the role, so we combined practical elements—a stunning muscle suit and prosthetics crafted by the brilliant Barrie Gower—with CG. Jared Leto gave a full-bodied performance, and then we utilized visual effects to layer that CG skull over his face. It was a perfect blend of old-school craftsmanship and cutting-edge tech.

Masters of the Universe hits theaters on June 5, 2026.