The beloved franchise Power Rangers is set to make a thrilling return with a new live-action series, slated for Disney+. According to The Wrap, Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz, the showrunners behind the acclaimed Percy Jackson and the Olympians, are currently in negotiations to helm this exciting project. They are expected to write, showrun, and produce the series in collaboration with 20th Century TV.
Hasbro, the current owner of the Power Rangers brand, aims to breathe new life into the franchise, targeting both a fresh audience and maintaining the loyalty of long-time fans. This move comes as part of Hasbro's broader strategy to expand the Power Rangers universe across various platforms, including toys, games, and digital entertainment.
Power Rangers was a cultural phenomenon in the '90s, captivating children with its iconic teenage superheroes and their impressive mechs that could merge into a colossal fighting machine. The original series, The Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, became a staple for a generation of young viewers.
In 2018, Hasbro acquired the Power Rangers franchise from Saban Properties in a landmark $522 million deal. At the time of the acquisition, Hasbro's chairman and CEO, Brian Goldner, expressed enthusiasm about the franchise's potential. "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," he stated.
The acquisition followed the unsuccessful 2017 movie reboot, which attempted a darker, more mature take on the Power Rangers. Despite intentions for a series of sequels, the film's poor box office performance led to the cancellation of these plans, prompting Saban to sell the franchise to Hasbro.
In addition to the Power Rangers project, Hasbro is also developing other notable ventures. These include a live-action Dungeons & Dragons series titled The Forgotten Realms at Netflix, an animated Magic: The Gathering series also in development at Netflix, and plans for a Magic: The Gathering cinematic universe. These projects highlight Hasbro's ambition to expand its iconic brands into new and exciting realms of entertainment.
