Hollywood loves a franchise, especially one with built-in nostalgia and the promise of a multi-film saga. The 2017 Power Rangers movie, a gritty, character-driven reboot of the beloved 90s phenomenon, arrived with exactly that ambition: to kickstart a shared universe akin to Marvel’s juggernaut. But as many an aspiring blockbuster has learned, the path to cinematic immortality is paved with good intentions and often ends in a whimper, not a roar.
Five years on, the buzz around the 2017 film isn’t about its sequels, but about the grand plans that were left on the cutting room floor – or rather, never even made it to production. Insiders familiar with the project at Lionsgate and later, Hasbro, suggest there was a roadmap for as many as four additional films, building a rich, interconnected narrative around the Morphin’ Grid. What happened to this ambitious vision, and what lessons can be learned from its premature end?
The Allure of the Multi-Film Saga: Why Hollywood Loves a Universe
The success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe fundamentally reshaped Hollywood’s approach to intellectual property. Suddenly, individual films weren’t just about their own story; they were potential building blocks for something much larger, promising long-term revenue streams and fervent fan engagement. Studios began eyeing their own dormant or underutilized IPs, dreaming of their own interconnected sagas. Universal attempted the ‘Dark Universe’ with its classic monsters, beginning with the Tom Cruise-led The Mummy (2017) – a film that, ironically, shared its release year with Power Rangers and faced similar commercial struggles.
The original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series, with its deep lore, countless Ranger teams, villains, and Zords, practically begged for a cinematic universe treatment. The 2017 film’s director, Dean Israelite, and writer, John Gatins, along with the studio, clearly aimed for a more mature, grounded take, hoping to appeal to both nostalgic millennials and a new generation. They cast a diverse, talented group of young actors like Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler, Ludi Lin, and Becky G, and brought in established stars like Bryan Cranston as Zordon and Elizabeth Banks as a delightfully unhinged Rita Repulsa.
What Went Wrong (or Right, But Not Enough)?
The 2017 Power Rangers reboot was, in many ways, an interesting experiment. It was praised for its character development, focusing on the troubled teens behind the helmets before they even became heroes. The first two acts were a surprisingly nuanced teen drama, a sort of Breakfast Club with superpowers. The climax, when the Rangers finally ‘morphed’ and piloted their Zords, delivered the spectacle fans craved. So why did it fail to launch the anticipated universe?
Ultimately, it came down to the box office. With a reported production budget of around $100 million (and likely tens of millions more in marketing), the film needed to gross significantly more than its worldwide total of approximately $142 million to be considered a clear success. Industry analysts at the time pointed to several factors:
- Tone Discrepancy: While many appreciated the grittier take, some felt the film struggled to balance its darker, more realistic elements with the inherent campiness of the Power Rangers concept, alienating parts of both the nostalgic and new audiences.
- Delayed Action: The slow burn to the actual ‘morphing’ and Zord action, while building character, might have tested the patience of viewers expecting immediate superheroics.
- Stiff Competition: Releasing in March 2017, it faced strong competition from films like Beauty and the Beast and Logan, both of which dominated their respective demographics.
- International Underperformance: While it did okay domestically, its international numbers weren’t strong enough to offset the budget and guarantee a sequel greenlight.
Lionsgate, the studio behind the film, reportedly had ambitious plans, even introducing a post-credits scene teasing the arrival of Tommy Oliver, the iconic Green Ranger – a clear signal of sequel intentions. However, the commercial returns simply didn’t justify moving forward with those plans.
Power Rangers’ Enduring Legacy and Future Attempts
The Power Rangers IP, now owned by Hasbro through its acquisition of Saban Brands, remains a potent force in pop culture. Despite the 2017 film’s commercial struggles, the brand continues to thrive in television, toys, and comics. Hasbro has made it clear they intend to develop the property further, signaling new cinematic and television projects in the works.
Just recently, there have been whispers and reports of a new Power Rangers movie and TV series in development for Netflix, with Jonathan Entwistle (known for The End of the F***ing World) reportedly attached to direct and oversee a new interconnected universe. This new iteration is rumored to be a complete overhaul, distinct from the 2017 film, suggesting Hasbro is learning from past attempts and perhaps aiming for a different tone or distribution strategy.
What to Watch For Next
The saga of adapting Power Rangers for the big screen is a cautionary tale about the challenges of rebooting beloved IP and the high stakes of launching a cinematic universe. While the 2017 film might not have been the multi-movie saga fans were promised, its attempt was not without merit. As Hasbro gears up for its next swing at a live-action universe, the industry will be watching closely to see if they can finally crack the Morphin’ Grid and deliver the enduring cinematic experience this iconic franchise deserves. The question isn’t if Power Rangers will return, but whether its next incarnation can finally achieve the long-term vision that eluded its predecessors.
