Jared Leto smeared blood on his face to terrify Masters of the Universe cast

Jared Leto covered his face in blood while filming scenes as Skeletor in the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie to deliberately terrify his castmates, according to an exclusive interview with co-star Alison Brie. The technique, confirmed by the actress who plays Evil-Lyn, was part of Leto’s commitment to creating an authentic, menacing presence on set for the June 5, 2026 theatrical release.

An Unconventional Approach to Skeletor

In an exclusive interview with Extra TV, Alison Brie revealed details about working opposite Leto’s incarnation of the iconic villain. When asked what she encountered when filming their scenes together, Brie explained that Leto wore a full body suit with the muscled physique, cloak, and boots, but took his character work a step further with his face. “He actually sort of covered his face in blood,” Brie said. “Because so that we were just terrified, which was a cool aspect. It was like you came to set like, ‘Oh my god.'” The actress noted that Leto’s choice to use practical makeup instead of digital dots or placeholders made the experience more immersive for the entire production team.

Building Authenticity Through Intimidation

Brie’s account suggests that Leto’s method was deliberate intimidation — a tactic rooted in creating genuine emotional reactions from his scene partners. The actress emphasized that the advanced technology on set meant Leto didn’t need to rely on visual placeholders or tracking dots. Instead, his full physical presence as Skeletor, complete with the blood-covered visage, allowed the cast to react naturally to the villain’s menacing appearance. “It wouldn’t have felt as magical. It wouldn’t have transported us as much just looking at dots every day,” Brie explained, suggesting that Leto’s approach enhanced the authenticity of their performances. The technique reflects a broader creative vision from director Travis Knight, who grounded the entire production in a tone that balances homage to the original 1980s material with contemporary filmmaking.

A Cast Assembled for Eternia

The Masters of the Universe ensemble brings together Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam/He-Man, Camila Mendes as Teela, and Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms, alongside Brie’s Evil-Lyn and Leto’s Skeletor. Brie, who recently completed the Netflix series GLOW, brought her stunt experience to the role, performing her own fight choreography in heeled boots and a cape. At the film’s premiere, she reported that audiences responded enthusiastically, with both longtime fans and younger viewers engaging with the action sequences and character designs. The actress expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of returning for a sequel, calling her time on set “one of the most fun times I’ve had on set.”

Sources

• Extra TV / YouTube — Alison Brie’s exclusive interview detailing Jared Leto’s blood-covered face technique and its effect on cast members
• Screen Rant — Coverage of director Travis Knight’s comments on Jared Leto’s on-set approach
• IMDb, Wikipedia, Rotten Tomatoes — Cast, release date, and production details for Masters of the Universe (2026)