Nicholas Galitzine’s He-Man training changed his body enough that even his mother noticed it in a practical way.
The actor, 31, told People that his physical transformation for Masters of the Universe was so dramatic that his mother could no longer fully wrap her arms around him.
Galitzine shared the detail at a New York screening of the movie on June 1, joking that his mother is “a tiny little thing.” He said the reaction from family and friends was “very, very trippy” after they saw how much size he had added for the role.
He Ate 5,000 Calories a Day
View this post on Instagram
Galitzine’s He-Man build was not a casual gym phase.
People reported that he ate around 5,000 calories a day and trained for three hours daily to play Prince Adam, the hero better known as He-Man.
He previously described the process as the hardest thing he has ever done. The work gave him a very different screen image from the roles many viewers know him for, including Red, White & Royal Blue, The Idea of You, Bottoms, and Mary & George.
He Missed the Original He-Man Era
Reuters reported that Galitzine was born in 1994 and did not grow up during the first wave of He-Man popularity, which began with Mattel toys and the 1983 animated series.
He told Reuters he “missed out” on that original era, but came to understand the role through the script and through what the character means to longtime fans.
The new movie follows Prince Adam as he returns to Eternia, accepts his destiny as He-Man, and faces Skeletor, played by Jared Leto.
The Movie Brings Back a Major 1980s Franchise
Masters of the Universe comes from Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel Studios, with Bumblebee director Travis Knight behind the camera.
The cast includes Camila Mendes as Teela, Idris Elba as Duncan, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Morena Baccarin as the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull, and Kristen Wiig as the voice of Roboto.
Galitzine is also stepping into a role previously played by Dolph Lundgren in the 1987 live-action Masters of the Universe movie.
Losing the He-Man Body Was Part of the Job Too
The transformation did not end when filming wrapped.
People reported that Galitzine’s next director told him to eat what he wanted and stop working out because he did not need to look like He-Man for his next project.
Galitzine said his first major post-filming meal included sushi and pizza, a sharp change from the strict routine he followed while building the He-Man body.
Masters of the Universe opens in theaters June 5.