Summary
It has been seven years sincePower Rangers(2017) hit theaters, and I still cannot believe we are not getting a sequel. From a financial standpoint, it is not surprising thatPower Rangers2never happened. The 2017 reboot grossed only $143 million on a $120 million budget (viaThe Numbers), making a sequel very unlikely. Still, considering how well the film was received among long-timePower Rangersfans and new audiences,Power Rangers2 could have worked. Having watched allPower Rangersmoviesand TV shows countless times, the 2017 film is among my favorite entries in the franchise.
Similar to theoriginalMighty Morphin Power Rangersmovie,Power Rangers(2017) was not canon to the TV show. Unlike its predecessors, however, the 2017 film did not include any of the original actors – the only exception being cameos from Amy Jo Johnson and Jason David Frank. Since the release of thePower Rangersreboot, the franchise has focused its efforts on the TV side of things, with specials likePower Rangers: Once & Alwaysand Netflix original seasons likePower Rangers Cosmic Fury. Sadly,I have lost all hope of a sequel toPower Rangers(2017) ever happening.
Power Rangers (2017) Was A Great Mighty Morphin Reboot
Power Rangers nailed the characters and the lore
Power Rangers(2017) was the first-ever attempt at rebootingMighty Morphin Power Rangerswith a new cast, this time for the big screen instead of a TV show. While thePower Rangersfilm was very different from the original series in terms of tone and scale, it honoredMighty Morphin’s legacy while doing something fresh with the characters.Recasting the originalPower Rangers was no easy feat, as the“five teenagers with attitude”introduced in 1993 had been fan-favorite characters for decades. Despite its flaws, I believePower Rangers(2017) was a virtually perfectMighty Morphinreboot.
Ludi Lin
Zack Taylor/Black Ranger
Drawing inspiration fromThe Breakfast Club,Power Rangersspent a lot of time introducing the characters and making the audience care about them.As iconic as the original Power Rangers were, I must admit the TV show never bothered giving them complex backstories or any development that lasted for more than 22 minutes. It was only with Andros inPower Rangersin Spacethat the franchise’s heroes started to become three-dimensional characters. ThePower Rangersreboot, on the other hand, made sure that each of the five Rangers had unique personalities and backstories that would be reflected in their actions.
Making Rita Repulsa a former Green Ranger was a fantastic idea, just like making Zordon the previous Red Ranger worked perfectly.
Power Rangers(2017) was also a great reboot in terms of worldbuilding. Although thePower Rangerschronologycan be quite confusing, the saga’s lore has always been rich and full of interesting planets, characters, and concepts. ThePower Rangersfilm created its version of the saga’s lore, combining established elements ofMMPRwith new ideas. For example,in this version of the story, Rita Repulsa and Zordon were once Power Rangers.Making Rita Repulsa a former Green Ranger was a fantastic idea, just like making Zordon the previous Red Ranger worked perfectly.
Power Rangers’ Sequel Could Have Been Much Better Than The First Film
Power Rangers 2 could have been a bigger, bolder film
Power Rangerswas good, but I believe the sequel would have been much better. With a reported budget of $120 million, thePower Rangersreboot faced some limitations that played against the film. For example,the Rangers only properly suited up once in the film.There was only one major set piece featuring all five Rangers and their Zords, not to mention how Jason was the only character to get their signature weapon. The fact that the Power Sword was used but not the rest of the Rangers’ arsenal perfectly illustrates how the film struggled with its budget.
Why Power Rangers’ Newest Team Made Me Fall In Love With The Show Again
Power Rangers’ most recent team gave the show its best seasons in years, Dino Fury and Cosmic Fury, both of which combined nostalgia with new ideas.
Power Rangershad to focus on the characters and their relationships instead of the action partially because of the budget. Had a sequel moved forward with an increased budget,Power Rangers2could have delivered all the cool moments that were missing from the first film.The characters had already been established, and now the franchise would get to focus on expanding the universe and introducing new villains.Power Rangersends with the formation of the team and each character accepting their role in this superhero mission, which was the perfect setup for a sequel.
Power Rangers 2 Could Have Given Us The Green Ranger Story
Power Rangers’ post-credits scene teased Tommy’s arrival
Power Rangers’ post-credits scene referenced Tommy Oliver, teasing the arrival of the Green Ranger in the sequel. While no cast or story decisions were made forPower Rangers2, it’s clear that the first film was setting up the introduction of the Green Ranger. Not only was “Oliver” referenced at the end of the movie, but Rita Repulsa was the original Green Ranger in this universe.In the TV show, Rita created the Green Rangerby giving a brainwashed Tommy the corrupted Power Coin. In the comics, Rita used her mother’s spirit to corrupt the Green Power Coin.
Making Rita into the previous Green Ranger was a great idea because it tied into the origins of the first evil Power Ranger in the TV show while adding a new spin to it. There is even a glimpse of Rita’s Green Ranger costume at the beginning of the movie, which would likely have inspired the design ofTommy Oliver’s Green Rangerform in the sequel that never happened.“Green With Evil” is one of my favoritePower Rangersarcsand happens shortly after the team was assembled, meaning it would’ve worked greatly asPower Ranger 2’s story.
Power Rangers Deserves A Cinematic Universe – And It Almost Got One
Power Rangers (2017) could’ve been the start of a great franchise
30 seasons and hundreds of comic book issues later,aPower Rangerscinematic universe is long overdue.WhilePower Rangersis primarily a TV franchise and should never abandon its roots, the series has more than enough potential to become a movie saga. Sadly, none of thePower Rangersmovies managed to kick-start a franchise. The 1995Mighty Morphin Power Rangersmovie was not great at the box office and only achieved its cult status later thanks to the VHS and reruns, whereas theTurbofilm felt like a straight-to-television film.
Turbo: A Power Rangers Movieis the only TV-canonPower Rangersfilm.
Power Rangers(2017) is arguably the bestPower Rangersmovie in terms of writing, character arcs, and special effects. Still, its poor box office performance killed any chances of a sequel. There have been rumors and reports of newPower Rangersprojects for the big screen since then, the most recent being a newinterconnectedPower Rangersuniversethat would include film and television from producer Jonathan Entwistle. Whatthe nextPower RangersshowafterCosmic Furywill be remains to be seen, but I hopePower Rangersdoes not give up on theatrical releases altogether.
Power Rangers
Cast
Power Rangers (2017) follows five teenagers who are chosen to become the Power Rangers, tasked with protecting their town of Angel Grove and the world from an impending alien threat. As they grapple with personal challenges, they must unite to harness their newfound abilities to avert imminent destruction.
