Camila Mendes spent years imagining herself inside a superhero movie. Masters of the Universe finally gave her the chance.
The Riverdale alum plays Teela in the new live-action adaptation of the Mattel franchise, starring opposite Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam and He-Man. In a new interview with People, Mendes said she had “always dreamed” of being in a superhero movie.
The role gave her a way into a large-scale fantasy world without entering Marvel or DC. Mendes told People it was exciting to help bring back characters that had been away from live-action movies for decades.
Mendes Wanted the Role Badly
Mendes described the Masters of the Universe audition process as “grueling” but fun.
She told People she had not wanted a role this badly since she booked Riverdale. Mendes said she saw herself in Teela and wanted the filmmakers to see it too.
Her final chemistry read with Galitzine helped. Mendes said she and Galitzine had an immediate dynamic, were having fun, and improvised during the read.
Teela Puts Her Into the Action
People describes Teela as a warrior who reconnects with Prince Adam when Eternia comes under threat from Skeletor.
Amazon’s official movie page says Prince Adam returns to Eternia after years away, finds his home under Skeletor’s rule, and joins forces with Teela and Duncan, also known as Man-At-Arms, before embracing his destiny as He-Man.
For Mendes, that means a role built around fantasy action, movement, and a major franchise world rather than the teen-drama setting that first made her widely known.
The Sets Were More Physical Than She Expected
Mendes told People that making a big-budget action movie came with some expected green-screen work, but the physical sets surprised her.
She said the sets felt expansive and made her feel like she was inside Eternia. Mendes said she had expected more green screen, but instead found parts of the production more interactive than she imagined.
That detail matters for a fantasy movie built around another world. Mendes was not only reacting to effects that would be added later; she was working inside large practical environments while playing Teela.
The Movie Opens June 5
Masters of the Universe opens theatrically in the U.S. on June 5, distributed by Amazon MGM Studios. International distribution is handled by Sony Pictures International Releasing.
The film is directed by Travis Knight, whose credits include Bumblebee. The cast includes Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam and He-Man, Jared Leto as Skeletor, Idris Elba as Duncan and Man-At-Arms, Mendes as Teela, Kristen Wiig as the voice of Roboto, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, James Purefoy as King Randor, Morena Baccarin as the Sorceress, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Malcolm and Fisto, and Charlotte Riley as Queen Marlena.
The new movie brings the Mattel franchise back to live action nearly 40 years after Dolph Lundgren played He-Man in the 1987 film. For Mendes, it also checks off the kind of superhero-scale role she says she had wanted for years.