June 7, 2026, 4:03 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
On June 4, the new superhero film “Masters of the Universe” hits theaters. Nicholas Galitzine takes on one of the lead roles, stepping into the shoes of He-Man. To portray the iconic character, the actor had to significantly increase his muscle mass and body weight. He achieved this impressively, as numerous photos and videos show. How he trained for the role and what he had to pay special attention to is detailed below.
How the New “He-Man” Trained Hard for the Role
When people think of He-Man, many immediately recall Dolph Lundgren. The muscular blond portrayed the superhero in the first 1987 film adaptation of “Masters of the Universe.” Now, Nicholas Galitzine takes on the iconic role in the remake. He had to undergo a significant physical transformation, as he was not previously known for such muscular roles. Galitzine is better known from films like “The Craft: Legacy” and “Purple Hearts,” where he appeared much leaner.
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As he revealed in an interview with the U.S. magazine “E! News,” he trained daily for five months for his role as He-Man. During the muscle-building phase, he spent up to three hours a day on strength training. Additionally, he completed numerous cardio sessions during filming. To appear as authentic as possible as “He-Man,” the actor also participated in intensive stunt training.
Galitzine Consumed 5,000 Calories Daily
To appear as robust and strong as possible for the role, the actor consumed up to 5,000 calories daily. For comparison, the average daily requirement for an adult is usually around 2,000 to 2,500 calories, depending on gender, age, and activity level. Galitzine also revealed that despite the enormous calorie intake, he often still felt hungry at the end of the day—mainly due to the high training and work demands.
He also shared on the podcast “Fandango’s Big Ticket” that during the definition phase, he sometimes fasted for up to 18 hours. He even completed some of his strength training sessions on an empty stomach to further reduce his body fat percentage.
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What His Workout Looked Like
Together with Hollywood coach Jason Walsh, Galitzine completed a program over three months with classic basic exercises, according to “Men’s Health,” which he performed up to five days a week. The focus was primarily on the chest, shoulders, and arms to convincingly portray the massive upper body of the iconic character.
Dumbbell Bench Press: 2 to 3 Sets of 8 to 12 Repetitions
The exercises included the dumbbell bench press. The dumbbells are lowered in a controlled manner to chest height and then pressed back up. The exercise primarily trains the chest, shoulders, and triceps.
Reverse Curls with the EZ Bar: 3 Sets of 8 Repetitions
In this variation of the bicep curl, the bar is held with an overhand grip. This targets the forearms and grip strength in addition to the biceps.
Tricep Pushdowns on the Cable Machine: 3 Sets of 8 Repetitions
For this exercise, the handle on the cable machine is pushed down from chest height in a controlled manner until the arms are nearly straight. The movement is primarily driven by the triceps.
Overhead Tricep Extensions on the Cable Machine: 3 Sets of 8 Repetitions
In this exercise, the cable is guided behind the head, and the arms are extended forward or upward in a controlled manner. This exercise places additional emphasis on the triceps.
Upright Rows on the Cable Machine: 3 Sets of 8 to 12 Repetitions
The program also included upright rows on the cable machine. Here, the handle is pulled along the body to about chest height. This exercise primarily targets the shoulders and upper back.
How Galitzine Felt About His Transformation
Of course, such a drastic physical transformation also had its downsides. In an interview with the U.S. magazine “People,” Nicholas Galitzine described the preparation for his role as “He-Man” as “the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” The months leading up to filming were a “daily challenge” for him.
The actor also revealed that during the transformation, he sometimes struggled with physical self-doubt and barely recognized himself. He no longer fit into his usual clothes and had to get used to his changed body. Despite all the hardships, he found the experience “incredibly empowering” in retrospect, as he dedicated himself fully to a clear goal over a long period.