Disney may be ready to "Go Go Power Rangers" with a new take on the long-running kids' show!
There's been a push for 1990s nostalgia on TV in recent years, as proven by the score of reboots and sequel series. So it's no shock Disney is going to get into it with a brand new take on Power Rangers.
Per The Wrap (and confirmed by TV Line), Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz, the showrunners of the hit Percy Jackson and the Olympians, are working on a new Power Rangers series to debut on Disney+.
So far, there are no other details, but the idea of this famed franchise making its way back to Disney is another turn in the history of a franchise that remains strong after over 30 years.
A short Power Rangers history
One of the more unlikely success stories in television history has to be Power Rangers. Back in 1993, producer Haiam Saban came across Super Sentai, an iconic Japanese kid's show that began in the 1970's where young people are granted powers to become multi-colored super-suited heroes. They fought a variety of enemies, utilizing giant "Zord" robots to save the day.
Saban used the old Sentai footage with a new American cast and filmed new scenes around it. Premiering in 1993, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers became an instant sensation. Toys sold out at stores, the cast were stars, and the series was a big push for Fox, complete with two big-screen movies.
Like Super Sentai, the series would change each season in themes, cast and storyline. It remained a success before Fox sold the rights to The Walt Disney Company in 2002 as part of a wider sale of Fox Kids.
Disney's history with Power Rangers
Disney made some changes to the show, moving production from Los Angeles to New Zealand, which allowed for a bigger budget. They would run the show as part of their Saturday morning lineup on ABC. They kept up the use of the Senati footage for seven seasons until 2009.
Saban and Hasbro reacquired the property in 2010 for a new series airing on Nickelodeon and later on Netflix. That seemed to end in 2023 with plans for a new rebooted series and perhaps a movie but those seemed to have fallen through.
There had been an attempt at a new film franchise in 2017, which took a more serious approach to the property. That film's underperformance at the box office ended the franchise plans.
As of now, the show is spread out among streamers, with Tubi having all seasons from MMPR to Dino Charge, while the later seasons are on Netflix.
What can Disney do with the Power Rangers?
A key question is if the new show will continue the tradition of using the Super Sentai footage. That series has multiple seasons that can be used, following the idea of repurposing the older footage with new actors.
There's also a chance Disney decides to ignore the Senati footage and just film an entirely new show on their own. While that can be a bit easier, most Power Rangers fans agree the campy and often silly original Japanese footage is what makes the show so charming and appealing to watch. Trying to change that could ruin what makes the show work.
It's still in the early stages, with a lot left to plan out. Still, the idea that Disney can give Power Rangers a new lease on life shows this franchise can't die out, no matter what.
Past seasons of Power Rangers streaming on Tubi and Netflix.