Stock Markets January 29, 2026

Mattel Leverages He-Man Relaunch with New Action Figures Ahead of 'Masters of the Universe' Film

Toymaker times global rollout of He-Man, Skeletor and Evil-Lyn figures to precede its second major theatrical release

By Hana Yamamoto MAT
Mattel Leverages He-Man Relaunch with New Action Figures Ahead of 'Masters of the Universe' Film
MAT

Mattel unveiled a new action-figure line tied to its upcoming live-action film 'Masters of the Universe', rolling out globally from April to build on early trailer interest. The move is part of a broader strategy to revive legacy brands while the company develops more than a dozen films. Pricing, cast and production team details were confirmed at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair.

Key Points

  • Mattel launched a global action-figure line for the upcoming "Masters of the Universe" film, with retail pricing around $25 per figure and a rollout beginning in April.
  • The film is Mattel's second major theatrical release after "Barbie", which grossed over $1.4 billion worldwide and won an Academy Award; the new teaser trailer has surpassed 30 million YouTube views.
  • Mattel has more than a dozen film projects in development and cited securing director Travis Knight as a key factor in relaunching the He-Man franchise.

NUREMBERG, Germany, Jan 29 - Mattel introduced a fresh range of action figures on Thursday that tie into its forthcoming live-action movie "Masters of the Universe", the company said at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair. The launch is intended to generate consumer interest ahead of the film and follows the toymaker's recent success with the theatrical release "Barbie".

The toymaker is working on more than a dozen film projects as part of an effort to reinvigorate its portfolio of toy brands and stimulate demand across its toy franchises. "Masters of the Universe" marks Mattel's second major studio release following "Barbie", which earned in excess of $1.4 billion worldwide and received an Academy Award.

Mattel highlighted early audience engagement for the new title: the teaser trailer released last week has exceeded 30 million views on YouTube. Roberto Stanichi, Mattel's chief global brand officer, described strong nostalgic interest in the toy line that originally debuted in the 1980s and said the company had been waiting for the right moment to relaunch the brand in a way that honors its legacy. He made the remarks at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair in Germany.

The decision to revive the line was influenced by securing a film team led by Oscar-nominated director Travis Knight, Stanichi said. The new action-figure assortment will include characters such as He-Man, Skeletor and Evil-Lyn. The figures are planned to retail for about $25 each and will be distributed globally beginning in April, roughly two months prior to the movie's theatrical debut.

The film stars Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man. The cast also features Jared Leto as Skeletor, along with Idris Elba, Alison Brie and Camila Mendes.


Investment product note included in the source material: The original report referenced an AI-driven product that evaluates the ticker MAT each month using more than 100 financial metrics and cited past winners including Super Micro Computer (+185%) and AppLovin (+157%). The note also referenced a promotional New Year’s Sale offering 55% off.

Risks

  • Consumer interest could be limited despite early trailer views - impacts the toys and entertainment sectors if engagement does not convert to sales.
  • Timing risk between toy rollout and film release - if the movie's reception is weaker than anticipated, retail demand for related merchandise could be affected, influencing retail and consumer discretionary markets.
  • Dependence on film production and creative team performance - the relaunch strategy relies on the execution by filmmakers and cast, which affects the media and entertainment sector.

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