MATRIX - HE-MAN TO RETURN TO BIG SCREEN

Warner Brothers is looking to bring He-Man back to the big screen in a new production called Masters of the Universe.

Joel Silver, the successful Matrix trilogy producer, is in talks along with the studio to acquire the rights to the franchise from the toymaker Mattel.

Justin Marks has been lined up to write the script and the film is pending a decision from Mattel, which could re-launch a toy line if the movie was produced.

Transformers, another film based on a cult toy line and consequent cartoon adaptation, will be released in July.

Should the He-Man film enter production, Silver has suggested that the look of the movie will be similar to 300, the classical war epic released earlier this year.

The He-Man story involves a warrior who is the only man left to defend a planet called Eternia from the evil Skeltor and his army of technological demons.

A film adaptation of the franchise did make it to the big screen in the 1980s with Dolph Lundgren starring as He-Man.

No-one has currently been cast in the new role of He-Man, or for the part of the hero's sister.