When I was 6 years old, my grandmother took me to see Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers at a theater in Warwick, Rhode Island. I was dedicated to the TV series since its debut on Saturday mornings two years earlier, so much so that I threw a tantrum the likes my secluded neighborhood had never seen when I missed the “Think Pink Week” episode because of YMCA swimming practice.
This movie was a big deal. It was a feature film starring most of the show’s cast that transitioned the Rangers into a new phase of the series with ninja powers and zords. Little did I know that the show would pretty much ignore this movie and air its own ninja origins episode, but at the time I was pumped. Not everyone else felt the same way, a fact that became clear when my grandma and myself were the only two in the entire theater. But, keeping the glass half-full, that speaks more to the fanbase — those who remain, persevere.
Let’s hope my experience isn’t repeated with Saban and Lionsgate’s Power Rangers movie reboot when it hits theaters next year. With today’s debut of the first teaser poster, one major difference between the old and the new is played up: the alien influence.
“Together we are more,” reads the tagline as a new crop of teenagers with attitude gaze up at the stars. Earlier, the studio released a look at the new Rangers suits and Elizabeth Banks as classic villainess Rita Repulsa. Production designer Andrew Menzies emphasized how the “alien costumes” are ones “that grows on them, that’s not man-made.” In other words, spandex is so ‘90s.
Dean Isrealite directs Power Rangers, which stars Ludi Lin as Black Ranger Zack, Naomi Scott as Pink Ranger Kimberly, RJ Cyler as Blue Ranger Billy, Becky G as Yellow Ranger Trini, Dacre Montgomery as Red Ranger Jason, and the newly announced Bryan Cranston as their floating head, alien recruiter Zordon.
Power Rangers will hit theaters on March 24, 2017. See the poster and official synopsis below.
SABAN’S POWER RANGERS follows five ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove – and the world – is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat. Chosen by destiny, our heroes quickly discover that they are the only ones who can save the planet. But to do so they will have to overcome their real-life issues and band together as the Power Rangers before it is too late.
