Exciting news for fans of the iconic franchise: a live-action Power Rangers series is reportedly in the works for Disney+. According to The Wrap, the creative minds behind Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz, are in negotiations to helm this new venture as writers, showrunners, and producers in collaboration with 20th Century TV. This development marks a significant step for Hasbro, the current owner of Power Rangers, as they aim to rejuvenate the beloved series for both new and existing fans.
The original Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers series, which captivated audiences in the '90s, introduced the world to a team of teenage superheroes and their impressive mechs. These mechs could combine to form an even larger, more powerful mech, adding to the excitement and appeal of the show.
In 2018, Hasbro acquired Power Rangers and other brands from Saban Properties in a landmark $522 million deal. At the time, Hasbro's chairman and 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 acquisition followed the 2017 Power Rangers movie reboot, which attempted a darker, more gritty approach to the franchise but failed to resonate at the box office. The lackluster performance led to the cancellation of planned sequels and ultimately paved the way for Saban to sell the rights to Hasbro.
Hasbro's ambitions extend beyond Power Rangers, with other notable projects in the pipeline. These include a live-action Dungeons & Dragons series titled The Forgotten Realms in development at Netflix, an animated Magic: The Gathering series also at Netflix, and plans for a Magic: The Gathering cinematic universe.
