9 Years Ago, a Long-Awaited Reboot Changed a Beloved Series in Major Ways (And May Have Killed the Franchise)

by

When Mighty Morphin Power Rangers debuted on American TV in 1993, it used a unique approach for Western audiences. The show combined footage of Japanese teen actors from the Super Sentai series with new scenes featuring an American cast, resulting in a popular action series. Since then, Power Rangers has grown beyond the TV show into toys, video games, and comics, becoming a lasting part of pop culture. Even with cast changes and evolving storylines over many seasons, the brand has maintained global recognition that few children’s franchises achieve. In the 2010s, Lionsgate and creator Haim Saban aimed to capitalize on this popularity with a big-budget movie intended to compete with superhero films and launch a larger film series.

The movie Power Rangers, released on March 24, 2017, was directed by Dean Israelite and written by John Gatins. It had a large production budget of $100 million and featured well-known actors like Bryan Cranston as the voice of Zordon and Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa. The studio was optimistic about the film’s success, even planning a six-movie series. However, critics weren’t impressed. Power Rangers received a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 44. While it opened with $40.3 million at the box office, ticket sales dropped significantly in its second weekend. Ultimately, the film earned $142.3 million worldwide, but after factoring in the $100 million production budget and marketing costs, the studio reportedly lost around $74 million.

Was 2017ā€™s Power Rangers That Bad?

One of the biggest creative risks taken with the 2017 Power Rangers movie was its intentional departure from what fans loved about the original series. Director Dean Israelite aimed for a more realistic and character-focused story, meaning the Rangers didnā€™t transform into their suits until the very end of the film. Most of the movie focused on their personal struggles, feelings of loneliness, and typical high school drama. The limited budget also meant less of the exciting action fans expected. The giant Zords didn’t appear until the finale, and only the Red Ranger got a special effects weapon due to cost. For a franchise known for bright colors, action, and monster fights, a movie where the heroes spent the first ninety minutes in regular clothes was a gamble that tested the patience of many fans.

Despite its disappointing box office performance, the film is surprisingly well-made. What some viewers disliked ā€“ the focus on character development ā€“ is actually its strongest and most lasting quality. RJ Cyler delivers a captivating performance as Billy Cranston, and the relationships between the team members feel genuinely meaningful ā€“ something the Power Rangers TV shows didnā€™t often explore. The diverse cast, a key element from the beginning according to director Israelite, was also progressive for a blockbuster in 2017. However, the PG-13 rating proved to be a mistake, alienating the younger children who traditionally watched Power Rangers, while the focus on teen drama didnā€™t appeal to older audiences who enjoyed films like those in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ultimately, the 2017 Power Rangers movie ended up in a difficult position, failing to fully satisfy fans of the original series or attract a new audience with a bold new direction.

Is There a Future for the Power Rangers Franchise?

The 2017 Power Rangers movie lost $74 million, immediately halting plans for a six-film series. However, interest in reviving the franchise didnā€™t disappear. Hasbro bought Power Rangers in 2018 and started working on a new movie and TV series, with director Jonathan Entwistle and a planned Netflix show. After a long and difficult development process, this arrangement ended in June 2024 when Hasbro and Netflix parted ways, leaving both projects without a network. By the end of the year, Hasbro announced it would no longer fund movies or TV shows based on its own properties, effectively canceling the Power Rangers reboot indefinitely.

In March 2025, Hasbro teamed up with 20th Television to create a new live-action series for Disney+. The show will be written and produced by Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz, the team behind the recent Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Filming was expected to start in London in January 2026, and casting is reportedly underway, though no official announcements have been made. At the same time, Paramount and Hasbro are also working on a separate movie reboot. This means there are two major reboots happening at once, which is unusual for a franchise that hasnā€™t yet had a successful film after three tries. It remains to be seen whether the Disney+ series or the Paramount movie will finally break that pattern.

Should Power Rangers go back to what made it popular in the first place, or does it need a complete overhaul to stay relevant? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/list/5-best-power-rangers-shows-for-beginners/embed/#

Read More

2026-03-24 19:11