The latest iteration of the Power Rangers franchise is about to break onto silver scenes everywhere, with a little bit of help from Lionsgate. This is not the first time the popular franchise from Saban has been adapted into a feature-length film, although this is the first time that a Power Rangers movie will not tie directly with a Power Rangers TV series currently on the air.
Lionsgate dropped its first Power Rangers movie trailer last year, and now has less than 30 days to go until the movie opens in theaters. As part of the final marketing push for the film, a fresh TV spot (titled ‘Power’) for the big screen Power Rangers reboot has now been released online too.
This Power Rangers spot takes a different approach than some of its predecessors. Rather than highlighting the more fantastical elements and spectacle of the film (such as the Rangers’ fighting abilities and Zords), it instead focuses on the story at the heart of the movie – one about a group of high school misfits that, despite their shortcomings, must work together to save the world. The first shot of the TV spot has the Angel Grove sign prominently on display, in a nice nod to the fictional home of the Power Rangers. We also see and hear Bryan Cranston as Zordon here, as he cautions the Rangers about their classic enemy, Rita Repulsa (Elizabeth Banks).
Power Rangers is directed by Dan Israelite (Project Almanac), from a screenplay by John Gatins (Real Steel), and along with Cranston and Banks, stars Bill Hader (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), as Alpha 5, Becky G. (Empire), as Trini/Yellow Ranger, Naomi Scott (Terra Nova), as Kimberly Hart/Pink Ranger, Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things), as Jason Lee Scott/Red Ranger, Ludi Lin (Marco Polo), as Zack Taylor/Black Ranger and RJ Cyler (Vice Principals), as Billy Cranston, the Blue Ranger.
Of all the Power Rangers content released so far, this TV spot ranks amongst the most light-hearted in tone. There is definitely the sense that Billy is going to be the jokester of this movie, where others may be more serious. Fans can also see Zack throwing himself over a gorge in order to test his abilities, which may indicate a reckless streak in the character that could make him either an asset or a danger to the team. This little previews teems with hints about the Rangers in general, at that.
Unfortunately, the trailer highlights the Red Ranger more than any of his teammates, so there isn’t the best sense of how this incarnation of the Power Rangers is going to be working together. Traditionally, Jason is the leader of the Rangers, but rather than having three separate moments to focus on what Jason is up to, it may have been nice to let Trini or Kimberly have something to do. Yes, it’s a short TV spot and some character was bound to lose it. It’s just a shame that it had to be both female characters.
