Jared Leto's Skeletor: no inspiration from Tom Hardy's Bane

Jared Leto, known for his versatile acting, will play Skeletor in the upcoming Masters of the Universe film. Directed by Travis Knight, the movie has been generating plenty of buzz since the first footage was revealed, with fans speculating about Leto's voice and a possible influence from Tom Hardy's Bane in The Dark Knight Rises.

Skeletor's voice

During a recent press event, director Travis Knight clarified that Leto's take on Skeletor is not a tribute to Tom Hardy. Knight stressed that it was important to create a unique approach to Skeletor that differs from earlier interpretations, including that of Alan Oppenheimer, the character's original voice. Oppenheimer's 1980s performance introduced a more comedic, less terrifying version of Skeletor, designed not to scare children too much.

A theatrical approach

Knight explained that he and Leto spoke at length about the voice, and their goal was to portray Skeletor as a figure who is both frightening and entertaining. Leto wrestled with how best to shape Skeletor's voice, which ultimately led to a result Knight found both menacing and theatrical. “It was important to capture the drama of the character,” Knight said. “Skeletor is very showy and loves being in the spotlight. It was crucial for us to build that into the voice.”

The creative process

The director also explained how Leto's performance on set was essential for the animators. “The animators watched what he was doing and tried to bring those unique details into Skeletor's face. It's a challenging task to get expressions onto a skull, but we found he may have a little more flexibility than our version of a skull,” Knight said. He says he's happy with the results and adds that Leto brings a lot of character and personality.

Masters of the Universe is an iconic franchise that began in the 1980s and has seen several incarnations since. The film, due out on June 5, 2026, has raised expectations with Leto's casting and Knight's vision.