How Nicholas Galitzine Built His Massive He-Man Physique – Inside His Heavy-Lifting, High-Calorie Routine
Until recently, Nicholas Galitzine was rarely the most physically imposing person in any room he walked into. Now, he probably would be.
The actor has undergone a dramatic body transformation to play He-Man in the upcoming Masters of the Universe film, gaining a significant amount of muscle to portray the famous comic-book character.
The result is a completely different physique that has left the former romcom leading man almost unrecognisable.
Anyone who first saw Galitzine in Red, White & Royal Blue might struggle to recognise him now. He appears noticeably broader, with wider shoulders, a thicker chest and arms that have doubled in size.
So, how exactly did he do it?
How Nicholas Galitzine Built His He-Man Physique
Speaking to E! News, Galitzine explained that the initial phase of training focused almost entirely on adding as much muscle mass as possible.
‘At the beginning, we were trying to gain as much size as we could,’ he said. ‘We were eating up to 5,000 calories a day, lifting weights for around three hours a day, and then eventually simplifying things.’
Training quickly became relentless.
‘It was daily,’ he explained. ‘You’d shoot a scene, then someone would tell you, “You’ve got 10 minutes before the next setup,” so you’d sprint to the exercise bike, do cardio, run back and shoot again. That went on for about five months.’
In an interview with W Magazine, Galitzine said his calorie intake remained extremely high throughout the bulking phase.
‘I was eating around 4,000 calories a day, but with the amount of physical work I was doing, I’d still end the day hungry,’ he said.
But the most difficult part came later, during the cut.
The Extreme Cutting Phase
Appearing on Fandango’s Big Ticket podcast, Galitzine described some of the more extreme tactics used to lean down for filming.
‘There were periods where I was fasting for 18 hours, then doing a three-hour weight-training session fasted before stunt work,’ he said. ‘It really tested my willpower.’
The actor admitted the experience became mentally demanding as well as physically exhausting.
Speaking to People, Galitzine described the transformation as ‘the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life’.
‘It was a daily challenge,’ he said, adding that he experienced body dysmorphia as his physique rapidly changed.
‘You stop recognising yourself. Your clothes stop fitting. It messes with your head a bit.’
Still, he said there was also something rewarding about fully committing to the process.
‘There’s something incredibly empowering about dedicating yourself to something that intensely,’ he explained. ‘Every day felt like climbing a mountain.’
Was His Muscle-Building Strategy Actually Effective?
While Galitzine’s transformation was undeniably impressive, some of the methods he used were extremely aggressive.
Long fasts combined with hours of weight training and stunt work aren’t typically recommended for people trying to maximise muscle growth.
Most sports nutrition experts agree that resistance training performance relies heavily on glycogen availability – meaning prolonged fasting can compromise energy levels, recovery and training intensity.
Research also consistently shows that consuming protein around workouts helps maximise muscle protein synthesis, making long fasting windows less ideal for anyone trying to build or maintain muscle mass.
That said, film transformations often prioritise appearance over long-term sustainability – and in Galitzine’s case, the results clearly speak for themselves.
The actor has also admitted the He-Man physique isn’t something he plans to maintain year-round.
‘It’s not a body I’d want to keep all the time,’ he said.
