A new era for the Power Rangers is seemingly upon us. It has been confirmed that Disney is now developing a new live-action series based on the long-running, beloved franchise. More than 30 years into its run and nearly 1,000 episodes later, it looks like the Rangers are getting a major modern makeover.
According to The Wrap, Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) are in talks to write and produce a new Power Rangers TV show for Disney+. Should the deal come to fruition, Steinberg and Shotz would also serve as showrunners of the new series. Hasbro, which controls the rights to the franchise, will also produce.
Plot details are currently under wraps but the reboot is said to “reinvent the franchise for a whole new generation of fans while delighting those who already know and love the world of Power Rangers.” Netflix has previously been working with Hasbro on a full-blown Power Rangers cinematic universe. The streaming service produced a couple of specials centered on the characters, in addition to hosting some of the shows from years past.
It was reported last year that Netflix’s planned new series set in the franchise was dead. Hasbro, meanwhile, still seemed poised to want to revive the property for the streaming era. It seems that Disney+ has emerged as the landing spot. It makes a great deal of sense, as the streamer already plays host to a lot of shows aimed at younger viewers. It’s also a pretty big nostalgia hub.
The Power Rangers have struggled to find a sizable audience in the new era. 2017’s live-action movie bombed at the box office and never got a sequel. The various shows have continued in some form, with shows like Power Rangers Beast Morphers carrying the torch. The whole enterprise started back in 1993 with the release of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. It has proved to be a shockingly enduring brand.
When Hasbro bought the rights to Power Rangers in 2018, the company made it clear they planned to do a lot with the property. Disney seems well-positioned to help Hasbro squeeze the most juice out of it. Brian Goldner, Hasbro’s then-chairman and chief executive officer, had this to say at the time of the purchase.
“Power Rangers is an iconic brand built on a heritage of great storytelling and merchandising with tremendous upside potential when fully executed across Hasbro’s Brand Blueprint. Shortly after entering into our licensing arrangement, it became clear that now was the time to begin investing in unlocking Power Rangers’ full potential. We see significant opportunity for Power Rangers across our entire Brand Blueprint, including toys and games, consumer products, digital gaming and entertainment, as well as geographically throughout our global retail footprint.”
The new Power Rangers show doesn’t currently have a release date.
What do you think? Are you excited about the show? Do you think Disney is a better fit than Netflix? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!
