Back in May we were stunned to hear Lionsgate and Saban Brands announce a new POWER RANGERS movie; then last week we learned that X-MEN: FIRST CLASS scribes Ashley Miller and Zack Stenz will be writing the screenplay. Needless to say, fans of the many incarnations of the Rangers were wondering how this might stand with the popular TV series we all watched (admit it).
TRANSFORMERS and STAR TREK producer Roberto Orci recently opened up to IGN about their plans for the movie which is still in very early stages. He revealed that the film will exist in continuity with the world of the TV series and also discussed the kind of research that he, Miller, and Stenz have been doing in preparation for the script. Let’s check out some quotes!
Orci said he and the writing team have been researching the history of Power Rangers:
“One of the first things we did was learn and read… [Saban] has 600 pages of research that they have on their stuff. We read through the synopsis of everything they did and we are actually taking into account quite a bit of the canon in a real way. We’re not just a leave it behind reboot. [Haim] Saban cares very much about that. This is something that he created. I had to go to his house, personally, to tell him, ‘Listen, I’m your man. Miller and Stenz, these are your guys. I promise you I won’t ruin your franchise.’ And he said, ‘It’s very important to me, because kids around the world know what the Power Rangers are. So you can’t just come in here and walk all over it. It better be consistent with what I’ve been doing.’ And I said, ‘Yes sir!’”
Whether the Power Rangers movie will exist within the continuity of the TV show:
“It’s got a continuity within the world. I can’t tell you what, but it does have continuity.”
Finally, when asked about possible cameos from the original cast:
“Of course. That’s something we want to rely on the Saban group to tell us. They have a lot of internal knowledge of their franchise and we’re just learning now. We’ve seen it only as fans, but they actually know it inside and out, so I’d love to know what fans want to see.”
My recollection of this series involves me sitting down after school and watching it with a Pop-Tart and or a subsequent Pizza Pop. Terrible food along with a sound effect-filled martial arts; it was pretty sweet. I don’t think there will be as many people screaming about the canon of this movie as there were about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but I’m sure there are passionate fans out there waiting to hear more. I hope they keep the campy style intact though, I would be inclined to check it out; and I could always use another Pop-Tart.
Are you interested at all in this new movie? What do you remember most about the show?
Also, this happened: