I never thoughtPower Rangerswould have a “Neo Disney” era, but that seems to be the case now that the franchise’s future is reportedly on Disney+.Power Rangersfans have become used to behind-the-scenes changes and reinventions of the franchise by now, from Disney buying the show in 2001, to Saban reacquiring the IP, to Hasbro then becoming the owners of the franchise. While Hasbro remains in charge ofPower Rangers,The Wrapreports that thenextPower Rangersshow will be a Disney+ original, with Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz in talks to produce the new series.
Ever sincePower Rangers Cosmic Furydropped on Netflixin September 2023, it remained to be seen where the franchise was going to go next. BetweenPower Rangersmoving production away from New Zealand for the first time in decades and the lack of updates about the nextSuper Sentaiadaptation, it was all but confirmed that the next series was going to be a reboot. Surprisingly, the project is being developed for Disney+ and 20th Century TV, which is curious considering thatDisney once ownedPower Rangers.
The Disney Era Gave Power Rangers Some Of Its Best Shows
Power Rangers And Disney Was A Good Match In The 2000s
ThePower RangersIP as a whole is not returning to Disney, but the fact that the long-awaited reboot will reportedly be a Disney+ original is a full-circle moment for the franchise. TheDisney Era ofPower Rangersgave us some of the franchise’s best shows, including but not limited toNinja Storm,Dino Thunder, andS.P.D.Disney became the owners ofPower Rangersin 2001after buying Fox Family Worldwide, whose list of IPs included a series of Haim Saban productions. While Disney didn’t seem particularly excited aboutPower Rangersback then, they released a lot of great seasons.
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Wild Forceis technically the first Disney season ofPower Rangers, but given that it was already in development when they bought the franchise,many considerNinja Stormas the de facto start of the Disney Era.Between the Rangers always having powers in their civilian forms and the standalone approach of each season, Disney’sPower Rangersshows had a very distinct tone and look to them. The civilian fights were usually great, and the acting was strong as well. It’s remarkable how many greatPower Rangersseasons were released consecutively during the Disney Era.
What To Expect From Power Rangers On Disney+
The New Show Could Change Power Rangers For The Better
AnewPower Rangersshow being in development for Disney+does not necessarily mean that all the traits and quirks of the Disney Era will return. This new show will most likely be a full reboot that will reimaginePower Rangerswith a fresh creative vision after 30 seasons ofSuper Sentaiadaptations. That said, Disney+ is one of the biggest, most influential streaming services out there, home to major Disney franchises like Marvel and Star Wars. This means thatPower Rangerscould become bigger than ever.
Power Rangers’ 2000s Era Peaked 20 Years Ago With A Crossover That Will Never Be Topped
One of the coolest team-up episodes in Power Rangers history aired 20 years ago and combined two of the show’s best seasons from the early 2000s.
Disney+’s relationship withPower Rangersmight be similar to what they’ve done withDoctor Who, another major franchise that had to reinvent itself for the age of streaming. Some of my favoritePower Rangersmemories come from the Disney Era, including a lot of games, merch, and action figures. Hopefully, this reboot on Disney+ will be a new beginning forPower Rangers, even if it is something very different from all the previous eras.
Power Rangers
Power Rangersis a long-running multimedia franchise that debuted in 1993 with the TV seriesMighty Morphin Power Rangers. Created by Haim Saban and adapted from the JapaneseSuper Sentaiseries,Power Rangersbecame a cultural phenomenon by combining action-packed footage fromSuper Sentaiwith new scenes featuring American actors. The franchise follows teams of young heroes who transform into Power Rangers to battle various villains, using martial arts, special powers, and giant mechas called Zords. Over the decades, the franchise has expanded into multiple TV series, films, comics, video games, and merchandise, becoming one of the most successful children’s franchises in the world.
