It's high time for Rita Repulsa to conquer Earth - and in this 2017 reboot, it will be Elizabeth Banks portraying the villainous Power Rangers character.
Banks' Rita Repulsa dons a sleeker outfit than that of her TV series counterpart, one that actually looks good (and, to a certain degree, menacing), as opposed to awkward and uncomfortable. And this should be a plus, given the fact that Rita wants to not only face the united forces of the Power Rangers, but also to dominate the entire world.
In regard to the new Rita Repulsa look, Elizabeth Banks stated the most obvious: it’s a modern and edgy reimagining of the "˜90's version. We could also add that this is a look worthy of a big screen villain, instead of one in a campy television series - imagine the laughter that could ensue when a hero faced a villain who looked as peculiar as the one below!
Back in the day (Collider)
Banks also said that her role in the Power Rangers reboot will mark a double-first for her: her first time portraying a villain bent on conquering Earth and her first time portraying an alien. Until now, the actress has appeared chiefly in comedies and such (of course, not taking into account the Hunger Games franchise); casting her as Rita Repulsa is certainly not typecasting.
The actress also revealed that her version of the character will be different from the one in the TV series (which was a given). She said that her backstory has been reimagined, to mesh with the new Power Rangers' backstories.
All in all, the character's makeover makes us want to learn more, although it appears that she'll have a pretty difficult time raising her arms"¦
First look at Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa (EW)
