The upcoming Power Rangers film will reach theaters on July 22, 2016 joining an already superhero and science-fiction packed year that includes Dawn of Justice, Captain America 3, third Planet of the Apes film, and a still unnamed DC Comics film. Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz, the writers behind X-Men: First Class, will write the film. Haim Saban along with Brian Casentini, Allison Shearmur and Roberto Orci will produce.
In its 20 year history, the Power Rangers franchise has had two movies. A standalone feature released in 1995 starring the cast from the TV show at the time, was separate continuity wise from the series. The second film, Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, was intended as a prequel to the fifth season in 1997. The third movie was announced after Haim Saban reacquired ownership of the franchise from Disney. The film will follow a team of high school students who must use their newly discovered superpowers to save the world. It has not been stated if this film will necessarily keep with the continuity of the TV show, now on its 21st season, re-imagine an earlier season, or establish a completely new story.
Power Rangers the TV series borrows its fight scene footage from the Japanese Super Sentai franchise. As the Japanese show switches teams and costumes, so to does the American series, each time creating a new version of the Rangers. The best known team, the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, lasted for three seasons before being succeeded by Power Rangers: Zeo. This practice has continued to the current team, the Power Rangers: Megaforce. The show still has a cult following, but the Mighty Morphin’ team remains by far the most popular and the most likely to get revisited if Saban and Lionsgate Studios hope to capture nostalgic Rangers fans.
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