7 Years Later, I Still Can’t Accept 2017’s Power Rangers Isn’t Getting A Sequel (2024)

It has been seven years since Power Rangers (2017) hit theaters, and I still cannot believe we are not getting a sequel. From a financial standpoint, it is not surprising that Power Rangers2 never happened. The 2017 reboot grossed only $143 million on a $120 million budget (via The Numbers), making a sequel very unlikely. Still, considering how well the film was received among long-time Power Rangers fans and new audiences, Power Rangers 2 could have worked. Having watched all Power Rangers movies and TV shows countless times, the 2017 film is among my favorite entries in the franchise.

Similar to the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie, Power Rangers (2017) was not canon to the TV show. Unlike its predecessors, however, the 2017 film did not include any of the original actors – the only exception being cameos from Amy Jo Johnson and Jason David Frank. Since the release of the Power Rangers reboot, the franchise has focused its efforts on the TV side of things, with specials like Power Rangers: Once & Always and Netflix original seasons like Power Rangers Cosmic Fury. Sadly, I have lost all hope of a sequel to Power Rangers (2017) ever happening.

Power Rangers (2017) Was A Great Mighty Morphin Reboot

Power Rangers nailed the characters and the lore

Power Rangers (2017) was the first-ever attempt at rebooting Mighty Morphin Power Rangers with a new cast, this time for the big screen instead of a TV show. While the Power Rangers film was very different from the original series in terms of tone and scale, it honored Mighty Morphin’s legacy while doing something fresh with the characters. Recasting the original Power Rangers was no easy feat, as the “five teenagers with attitude” introduced in 1993 had been fan-favorite characters for decades. Despite its flaws, I believe Power Rangers (2017) was a virtually perfect Mighty Morphin reboot.

Drawing inspiration from The Breakfast Club, Power Rangers spent a lot of time introducing the characters and making the audience care about them. As iconic as the original Power Rangers were, I must admit the TV show never bothered giving them complex backstories or any development that lasted for more than 22 minutes. It was only with Andros in Power Rangersin Space that the franchise’s heroes started to become three-dimensional characters. The Power Rangers reboot, on the other hand, made sure that each of the five Rangers had unique personalities and backstories that would be reflected in their actions.

Power Rangers (2017) was also a great reboot in terms of worldbuilding. Although the Power Rangers chronology can be quite confusing, the saga’s lore has always been rich and full of interesting planets, characters, and concepts. The Power Rangers film created its version of the saga’s lore, combining established elements of MMPR with new ideas. For example, in this version of the story, Rita Repulsa and Zordon were once Power Rangers. Making Rita Repulsa a former Green Ranger was a fantastic idea, just like making Zordon the previous Red Ranger worked perfectly.

Power Rangers’ Sequel Could Have Been Much Better Than The First Film

Power Rangers 2 could have been a bigger, bolder film

Power Rangers was good, but I believe the sequel would have been much better. With a reported budget of $120 million, the Power Rangers reboot faced some limitations that played against the film. For example, the Rangers only properly suited up once in the film. There was only one major set piece featuring all five Rangers and their Zords, not to mention how Jason was the only character to get their signature weapon. The fact that the Power Sword was used but not the rest of the Rangers’ arsenal perfectly illustrates how the film struggled with its budget.

Power Rangers had to focus on the characters and their relationships instead of the action partially because of the budget. Had a sequel moved forward with an increased budget, Power Rangers2 could have delivered all the cool moments that were missing from the first film. The characters had already been established, and now the franchise would get to focus on expanding the universe and introducing new villains. Power Rangers ends with the formation of the team and each character accepting their role in this superhero mission, which was the perfect setup for a sequel.

Power Rangers 2 Could Have Given Us The Green Ranger Story

Power Rangers’ post-credits scene teased Tommy’s arrival

Power Rangers’ post-credits scene referenced Tommy Oliver, teasing the arrival of the Green Ranger in the sequel. While no cast or story decisions were made for Power Rangers 2, it’s clear that the first film was setting up the introduction of the Green Ranger. Not only was “Oliver” referenced at the end of the movie, but Rita Repulsa was the original Green Ranger in this universe. In the TV show, Rita created the Green Ranger by giving a brainwashed Tommy the corrupted Power Coin. In the comics, Rita used her mother’s spirit to corrupt the Green Power Coin.

Making Rita into the previous Green Ranger was a great idea because it tied into the origins of the first evil Power Ranger in the TV show while adding a new spin to it. There is even a glimpse of Rita’s Green Ranger costume at the beginning of the movie, which would likely have inspired the design of Tommy Oliver’s Green Ranger form in the sequel that never happened. “Green With Evil” is one of my favorite Power Rangers arcs and happens shortly after the team was assembled, meaning it would’ve worked greatly as Power Ranger 2’s story.

Power Rangers Deserves A Cinematic Universe – And It Almost Got One

Power Rangers (2017) could’ve been the start of a great franchise

30 seasons and hundreds of comic book issues later, a Power Rangers cinematic universe is long overdue. While Power Rangers is primarily a TV franchise and should never abandon its roots, the series has more than enough potential to become a movie saga. Sadly, none of the Power Rangers movies managed to kick-start a franchise. The 1995 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie was not great at the box office and only achieved its cult status later thanks to the VHS and reruns, whereas the Turbo film felt like a straight-to-television film.

Power Rangers (2017) is arguably the best Power Rangers movie in terms of writing, character arcs, and special effects. Still, its poor box office performance killed any chances of a sequel. There have been rumors and reports of new Power Rangers projects for the big screen since then, the most recent being a new interconnected Power Rangers universe that would include film and television from producer Jonathan Entwistle. What the next Power Rangers show after Cosmic Fury will be remains to be seen, but I hope Power Rangers does not give up on theatrical releases altogether.

Source: The Numbers

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Power Rangers

PG-13

Director

Dean Israelite

Release Date

March 23, 2017

Writers

John Gatins , Matt Sazama , Burk Sharpless , Michele Mulroney , Kieran Mulroney , Haim Saban

Cast

Elizabeth Banks , Bryan Cranston , Becky G. , Naomi Scott , Dacre Montgomery , Caroline Cave

Runtime

124 minutes

Main Genre

Action