The Heartbreaking Impact of Power Rangers’ Canceled 7-Movie Plan on the 2017 Reboot’s Failure

Power Rangers (2017) was anticipated to launch a franchise with multiple sequels, making its box office disappointment even more disheartening. The history of theatrical adaptations for the Power Rangers franchise is quite intricate, beginning with the 1995 release of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie. Although this initial film has achieved classic status thanks to reruns and home video releases, its original performance at the box office was lackluster. A follow-up, Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, hit theaters in 1997 but was produced on a significantly smaller budget and received a more limited release.

A New Beginning: Power Rangers (2017)

After a long hiatus, the franchise made its return with Power Rangers (2017), which promised a darker and more mature interpretation of the beloved series. Featuring a talented cast of emerging stars, this reboot was poised to rejuvenate interest in the franchise and had the potential to develop a cinematic universe surrounding the adventures of our favorite Rangers. Regrettably, this ambitious plan for a new franchise never materialized.

Lionsgate’s Ambitious Goals

During a pre-release conference call in 2017, Jon Feltheimer, the CEO of Lionsgate, expressed optimism for the franchise’s future, indicating a vision for “five, six, or seven” potential films (via Variety). Although detailed discussions about these sequels were scarce, the studio’s enthusiasm reflected their belief in the franchise’s capacity for expansion. Unfortunately, Power Rangers stumbled at the box office, effectively quashing any prospects for further films before the franchise could truly take flight.

A Lost Cinematic Opportunity: The 7-Movie Plan

Abundant Lore for Unlimited Potential

Power Rangers (2017) imagery — Custom image by Ana Nieves

The failure of Power Rangers at the box office is especially disappointing given the extensive lore that could have supported a vibrant cinematic universe. While the original TV series targeted a younger audience, the franchise developed a rich mythology over three decades, featuring a vast array of characters, villains, and settings. This could have translated into a lively movie franchise, predominantly based on the Mighty Morphin era. For instance, BOOM! Studios has successfully revitalized the Power Rangers narrative in comic form while retaining the original charm of the series.

Season	Release Year
Mighty Morphin	1993
Zeo	1996
Turbo	1997
In Space	1998
Lost Galaxy	1999
Lightspeed Rescue	2000
Time Force	2001
Wild Force	2002
Ninja Storm	2003
Dino Thunder	2004
S.P.D.	2005
Mystic Force	2006
Operation Overdrive	2007
Jungle Fury	2008
R.P.M.	2009
Samurai/Super Samurai	2011
Megaforce/Super Megaforce	2013
Dino Charge/Super Dino Charge	2015
Ninja Steel/ Super Ninja Steel	2017
Beast Morphers	2019
Dino Fury	2021
Cosmic Fury	2023

The 2017 film uniquely incorporated a more mature Power Rangers narrative and offered character development while playing with established lore. It explored intriguing concepts, such as Zordon and Rita being former Power Rangers and the Zeo Crystals’ connection to Earth’s well-being, laying a groundwork ripe for deeper exploration in potential sequels. The introduction of the Green Ranger and the emergence of Lord Zedd represented just a few storylines that could have evolved in future films, not to mention the numerous other Ranger teams from earlier eras.

Envisioning Potential Sequels

Power Rangers 2: A Journey Through “Green With Evil”

Mighty Morphin Green Ranger in front of the Power Rangers from the 2017 movie — Custom image by Debanjana Chowdhury

Though the projected seven-movie saga never came to fruition, the possibilities are tantalizing. The envisioned sequels could have either expanded the Mighty Morphin storyline into an extensive saga or transitioned into different eras, such as Zeo and Turbo. If remaining with Mighty Morphin, the sequels might have creatively reimagined popular arcs like “Green With Evil” and “The Mutiny,” while also crafting new stories within that framework.

It is likely that Power Rangers 2 would have prominently featured the Green Ranger, especially since the 2017 film teased Tommy Oliver in its post-credits. Witnessing Tommy’s evolution from antagonist to leader of the Power Rangers is a narrative arc many fans would have cherished. One can only hope that Power Rangers will eventually make a triumphant return to the silver screen, once again breathing life into the Mighty Morphin legacy.

Source: Variety

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