The Masters of the Universe live-action movie reboot is going through more changes on the director and screenwriter front. Sony's project, based on Mattel's 1980s-born multimedia property of the same name, has already gone through a number of changes in creative personnel over the past five years or so, with filmmakers such as Jon M. Chu (Now You See Me 2) and Jeff Wadlow (Kick-Ass 2) lined up to direct at different points in time. Similarly, screenwriters varying from Terry Rossio (the Pirates of the Caribbean series) to Christopher Yost (Thor: The Dark World) have worked on the project, at different points during its development.
Sony is getting serious about Masters of the Universe now, however, after having claimed a 2019 release date for the Masters reboot. However, it turns out the project has once again gone through some changes behind the camera, despite director McG (Charlie's Angels, Terminator Salvation) having been aboard the project since last year.
We've confirmed that McG is no longer onboard to direct Masters of the Universe and that Sony is now searching for a new director, to get the film moving forward again to make its official release date. Moreover, EW is reporting that the screenplay is now being written by David S. Goyer of Batman Begins, Man of Steel and Batman V Superman. Dawn of Justice fame.
While Goyer is something of a contentious name amongst comic book movie fans, he has helped to turned genre properties similar to Masters of the Universe into hit film franchises in the past, and is currently working to do the same with another DC Comics adaptation - the DC Extended Universe installment, Green Lantern Corps. It's not clear yet if Goyer is starting from scratch on the Masters script or drawing from a previous draft, though it seems safe to presume that he won't be the only screenwriter to receive credit for their own contributions to the film, when all is said and done.
As for the Masters of the Universe director: depending on who is recruited for the job, they could choose to take the project in a more tongue-in-cheek direction - similar to what Taika Waititi is doing with another fantasy superhero property, Thor, with this year's Thor: Ragnarok - or embrace a comparatively serious and more dramatic tone, with their adaptation. The 1987 live-action Masters of the Universe movie is very much of the typical campy '80s fantasy adventure variety, so it's safe to presume the new version will (at the very least) be intentionally funny, should it go the more comedic route.