Exciting news for fans of the iconic franchise: Power Rangers is reportedly gearing up for a new live-action series set to debut on Disney+. According to The Wrap, the masterminds behind the successful Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz, are in negotiations to helm this ambitious project as writers, showrunners, and producers in collaboration with 20th Century TV.
Hasbro, the current owner of the Power Rangers brand, is looking to breathe new life into the series, aiming to captivate a fresh audience while maintaining the loyalty of long-time fans. This move comes as part of a broader strategy to revitalize the franchise across various platforms, as evidenced by their acquisition of the brand from Saban Properties in 2018 for a staggering $522 million.
The original Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers series, which debuted in the '90s, became a cultural phenomenon, captivating audiences with its teenage heroes and their transforming mechs that could combine into a colossal fighting machine. Hasbro's CEO Brian Goldner expressed enthusiasm about the franchise's potential, stating, "We see significant opportunity for Power Rangers across our entire Brand Blueprint, including toys and games, consumer products, digital gaming and entertainment, as well as geographically throughout our global retail footprint."
This new venture follows the 2017 film reboot, which attempted a darker, grittier take on the Power Rangers universe but failed to resonate at the box office, leading to the cancellation of planned sequels and the subsequent sale of the franchise to Hasbro. As the company continues to expand its entertainment offerings, other notable Hasbro projects include a live-action Dungeons & Dragons series titled The Forgotten Realms and an animated Magic: The Gathering series, both in development at Netflix, along with plans for a Magic: The Gathering cinematic universe.
