Powerhouse Animation Assembles Cosmic Stars for Masters of the Universe

For a generation of cartoon fans, there's only one true Joker, and that's Mark Hamill. Now the Star Wars star who gave the Clown Prince of Crime a voice in Batman: The Animated Series is lending his lips to the faceless monster that is Skeletor for the new Austin-made reboot of Masters of the Universe.

Local studio Powerhouse Studio announced last September that they were working with their old friend and Clerks creator Kevin Smith on an update of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, the 1983 syndicated cartoon series from Filmation based on the Mattel toy line. The new show, titled Masters of the Universe: Revelation, is being produced for Netflix, for whom Powerhouse already produces the highly successful Castlevania adaptation (about to enter its third season) and their first original show, Mexican kung fu adventure Seis Manos.

However, the show (which is aimed at adults who grew up on the old Filmation show as much as it is at their kids coming in fresh) had yet to announce any vocal performers. Now fans know that Hamill will be taking on the skull-faced villain's evil cackle. But who will wield the Power Sword as Prince Adam and his alter ego, the mightiest hero of Eternia, He-Man himself? That will be Chris Wood, familiar to genre fans as Kai Parker in The Vampire Diaries and Mon-El in the CW's Arrowverse of DC Comics shows.

They're not the only voice talent announced today. With Game of Thrones, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance , and 300 on her resume, Lena Headey already knows fantasy, and takes on the beloved/hated role of Evil-Lyn. Meanwhile her GoT co-star Liam Cunningham puts aside Davos Seaworth's waterproofs for Man-at-Arms' armor.

And although Smith has promised a more serious take on the source material, it's still a sequel to the original Filmation series, and so some of the wilder and more kid-friendly characters make a return. So get ready for comedy great Stephen Root (no stranger to voice work as Bill Dauterive and Buck Strickland in King of the Hill) as cowardly tiger Cringer; his Office Space costar Diedrich Bader as Trap-Jaw; and Griffin Newman as Orko, the magician that looked like a floating hat and was supposed to provide comic relief in the original series.

There's also a true homage to the original series, with the return of a familiar voice. In a 57-year career, Alan Oppenheimer has become a legend in animated shows, lending his pipes to characters as diverse as Inch High Private Eye, Count Dracula in Drak Pack, Ming the Merciless in Flash Gordon, Vanity Smurf, and dozens more. However, he's best known for giving Skeletor his trademark faceless smirk, and the show gives him a rightful tribute by taking on the part of Moss-Man, as originally voiced by the late Lou Scheimer.

Here's the full talent list (and yes, you get double points for if you had the original action figure):

• Mark Hamill - Skeletor

• Chris Wood - Prince Adam / He-Man

• Lena Headey - Evil-Lyn

• Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) - Teela

• Liam Cunningham - Man-At-Arms

• Stephen Root - Cringer

• Diedrich Bader - King Randor / Trap Jaw

• Griffin Newman (The Tick) - Orko

• Tiffany Smith (Supernatural) - Andra

• Henry Rollins (Johnny Mnemonic, Lost Highway) - Tri-Klops

• Alan Oppenheimer as Moss Man

• Susan Eisenberg (Wonder Woman, Justice League) - Sorceress

• Alicia Silverstone (Clueless, Batman & Robin) - Queen Marlena

• Justin Long (Galaxy Quest, The Wave) - Roboto

• Jason Mewes (Clerks, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back) - Stinkor

• Phil LaMarr (Mad TV, Justice League) - He-Ro

• Tony Todd (Candyman, Final Destination) - Scare Glow

• Cree Summer (DC Super Hero Girls) - Priestess

• Kevin Michael Richardson (The Batman, ThunderCats) - Beast Man

• Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) - Mer-Man

• Harley Quinn Smith (Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood) - Ileena

Masters of the Universe: Revelation will debut on Netflix in 2021.