The Power Rangers have their villain. Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2) has joined Power Rangers as the evil Rita Repulsa, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Repulsa is a classic villain in the series who was a sorceress bent on intergalactic domination. She was imprisoned in a space dumpster on the moon until she was accidentally released. It was her release that lead Zordon to find the teenagers who would become the Power Rangers to defeat her.
The casting makes sense as Banks seems to have the look and laugh that the character was known for on the television series and Power Rangers: The Movie. She has also proven to be game for flamboyant costuming as seen in The Hunger Games franchise.
Lionsgate cast Dacre Montgomery (A Few Less Men) and Naomi Scott (The Martian) as the Red and Pink Ranger, respectively. The film has also rounded out those who will play the rest of the superhero team. RJ Cyler (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) will play the Blue Ranger, with Becky G. (Hotel Transylvania) as the Yellow Ranger and Ludi Lin (Monster Hunt) as the Black Ranger. The film is being directed by Dean Israelite (Project Almanac).
Before we see Banks don the iconic clothing, she will star and direct in the upcoming Pitch Perfect 3 as well as star in the war drama Rita Hayworth with a Hand Grenade.
Power Rangers is currently set to release March 24, 2017. We’ll have more on the project as it develops.