Power Rangers: 7 Things Disney’s Reboot Must Do To Revitalize the Franchise

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Disney+ is rebooting Power Rangers with a new live-action series, and the team behind Percy Jackson and the Olympians is developing it. While details are still scarce, we’re starting to get hints about the show’s direction and who might be involved. Here are 7 things the reboot needs to do to breathe new life into the Power Rangers franchise, starting with a core element of what makes the show special.

7. Mighty Morphin Is Fine, Just Remember to Embrace the Fun

As a big Power Rangers fan, it feels like a running joke that we’re always talking about a new adaptation of the original Mighty Morphin seasons. I get why people feel that way – it’s happened a lot! But honestly, it also makes sense from Hasbro’s side. If you’re going to bring a franchise back to life, you want to start with the strongest, most well-known part, and Mighty Morphin is still what most fans remember and love. It’s the perfect place to begin, really.

If you’re planning to reimagine Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, that’s great! Just remember to capture the spirit of the entire series, not just a few iconic parts. The show wasn’t just about intense action and high stakes; it also had a lot of silly, fun moments with characters like Bulk and Skull, and some wonderfully cheesy monsters and storylines across all three seasons. The bright, vibrant colors were a huge part of its appeal, just as important as the costumes and the Command Center. To truly do the show justice, embrace all the elements that made it special.

6. Don’t Overthink the Costumes

Let’s talk about the costumes from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers – they’re instantly recognizable, and that’s what really matters. I liked the alien look of the costumes in the 2017 Power Rangers movie, but the recent Ninja Kidz project showed a better way to update the classic designs while still keeping them true to the original look.

Looking back, the costumes from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie struck a better balance between practicality and iconic design, although they were still difficult to wear and work with. They kept the classic diamond shapes and colors, with a subtle armored look. The Ninja Kidz costumes were similar in this regard, so hopefully the upcoming reboot will find a sweet spot between these styles when designing the new suits.

5. The Ground Battles Should Steal The Show

Most people immediately think of the Zords and Megazord when they hear “Power Rangers,” and those are definitely memorable. However, some of the most exciting moments happen when the Rangers fight Putties or a new monster created by Rita or Zedd in hand-to-hand combat. These battles really showcase each Ranger’s unique personality, how well they work together, and their martial arts skills.

Although the Zords and Megazord are often the focus, the Power Rangers spend most fights battling hand-to-hand. These ground-level battles need to be fast-paced and impactful to stay exciting for viewers, and also help manage costs so the show can afford its larger, more spectacular moments.

4. Ditch The Copy and Paste Episodes

A common pattern throughout the history of Power Rangers is how consistently episodes are made. They usually begin with the Rangers noticing a problem, followed by a fight while in their normal clothes, then a fight after morphing into their Ranger forms. This typically leads to a battle with a giant monster, a switch to their Zords, and finally, a finishing blow from the Megazord. While there are some episodes that break this mold, this formula has been used consistently for a long time, and it’s time for the show to try something different.

The possibilities also depend on how long each episode is and how it’s structured in the new series. Even with a typical 30-minute runtime, there’s a lot of creative freedom. While the old format worked, this reboot is a chance to try new things. Some episodes could skip the giant robot fight altogether, or even focus entirely on the robots or a major villain. We could also experiment with the order of events or use flashbacks to tell the story. Modern TV often uses these techniques, and Power Rangers could benefit from them too, as long as the creators have the flexibility to move beyond the traditional episode structure.

3. The Team Needs a Flawed Zordon

Moving away from established storylines opens up exciting possibilities, and the 2017 Power Rangers reboot started heading in the right direction. The comics offer a more complex take on Zordon, portraying him not as a perfect leader, but as someone with flaws, which makes him a more compelling character. The reboot explored this by linking Zordon and Rita Repulsa to a previous generation of Power Rangers. Even without that connection, the comics present Zordon as a well-intentioned but imperfect leader who sometimes makes mistakes.

The original Zordon worked well for the classic Power Rangers series, but a more complex and human leader feels right for today’s audiences. This creates more compelling drama between Zordon and the Rangers, and allows both characters to develop in interesting ways. Exploring Zordon’s backstory on Eltar is a good option, but even without that, he can be much more than just a plot device. The key is to make him a fully realized, three-dimensional character.

2. A New Level of Rita Repulsa

Rita Repulsa is a fan-favorite character from the original Power Rangers series, and she’s remained popular in both movies and comics. However, the comics really expanded her character in exciting ways, and it would be great to see those developments brought to life on screen.

The comics delved into Rita’s upbringing, showing how her mother tried to steer her away from her father’s influence. They also revealed long-awaited moments, like how she first met allies Squatt and Baboo. A bonus chapter even shows Rita reconnecting with her father, giving fans a deeper understanding of her character and her feelings about her past. Incorporating just a small portion of this backstory into the new series would significantly enhance one of the most beloved villains of all time.

1. Plant Seeds For The Bigger Universe

I previously said it’s okay to focus on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, but that’s a surprisingly controversial opinion among dedicated fans. Many would prefer the franchise move beyond Mighty Morphin, and given how often it’s revisited, that’s a fair point. While I personally don’t mind seeing Mighty Morphin, there’s a catch, and the new series really needs to keep this in mind.

Feel free to focus on the classic Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, but don’t miss the chance to build out a much bigger universe. The franchise has so many fantastic characters, teams, and settings to explore. As Shattered Grid showed us, the Power Rangers stories are strongest when they draw from a variety of sources, rather than relying on just one.

Mighty Morphin is a great starting place, but don’t hesitate to tease just how powerful the Morphin Grid can be, and how it can possibly even link to teams from across universes and timelines. You could also go the Shattered Dimensions route and have certain teams know about the different dimensions, or utilize the Time Force Rangers to throw in the concept of time travel. Any one of these or a mix of all of them could work, but it’s important to establish that while the focus is on this team of Rangers, the franchise is far more than just these Rangers. The importance of legacy has become one of the quintessential elements of Power Rangers, and if you establish a few of these things during the first season, you can easily build from those and start to fill out the world in cool ways down the line, which will delight longtime fans and keep new fans hooked to see what happens next.

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2025-12-31 21:02