Noah Centineo Explains Dropping Out Of He-Man Movie Before Nicholas Galitzine Took Over

Noah Centineo almost swung the iconic Sword of Power, but timing simply was not on his side. Long before Nicholas Galitzine inherited the hero duties for the upcoming *Masters of the Universe* adaptation, Centineo was fully locked in to bring Eternia's champion to the big screen. During a sit-down on the *Happy Sad Confused* podcast with host Josh Horowitz, the *Street Fighter* star offered fresh context regarding his quiet departure from the high-profile fantasy project. Centineo revealed that his commitment to playing the classic toy franchise hero came way back before he ever suited up for DC's *Black Adam*.

The actor admitted he got surprisingly close to stepping in front of the cameras. Centineo went through full screen tests, put on the character's famous loincloth, signed on the dotted line, and examined early production designs prepared by directors Adam Nee and Aaron Nee. Studio executives even gave him behind-the-scenes previews of the project's world-building efforts. Despite all the early momentum, constant scheduling snags completely derailed the plan. Centineo noted that repeated delays kept pushing the start date further down the calendar. What felt like an imminent shoot quickly turned into an extended waiting game, ultimately leading the star to walk away from the gig entirely.

Following Centineo's exit, the project underwent significant changes behind the scenes. The starring role eventually went to *The Idea of You* star Nicholas Galitzine, who is now tasked with headlining the long-gestating live-action adventure. While losing out on an iconic role could frustrate any rising talent, Centineo spoke candidly about how close he was without harboring any regrets. The former Netflix favorite moved straight onto other massive projects, proving that even when one heroic door closes in Hollywood, another action-packed opportunity opens up. Now focused on bringing legendary video game characters to life in *Street Fighter*, Centineo looks back at his near-miss with Eternia as just another classic tale of Hollywood development hell. Fans may never get to see his version of Prince Adam, but the star has clearly landed on his feet.