Riding the crest of 1990s nostalgia that just catapulted “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” to the top of the box office, Lionsgate has announced the release date for its upcoming reboot of the massive “Power Rangers” franchise. The studio is targeting July 22, 2016 for the release of the film.
A script by Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz has been turned in, but the studio has not yet found a director or cast for the project.
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The original incarnation of the popular series, called “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” debuted in 1993 and quickly became a national phenomenon. It was the story of a group of high school kids who gain superpowers, making them masters of martial arts and able to pilot massive interconnecting robots, a la “Voltron.”
The series has been in continual production for the past two decades, debuting its latest incarnation in February 2014. It has taken on different titles and casts, like “Power Rangers Zeo,” “Power Rangers Ninja Storm,” and the current “Power Rangers Super Megaforce.”
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Creator Haim Saban is a producer on the new film, along with Brian Casentini, Allison Shearmur and Roberto Orci. With 20-plus years worth of stories to tap into, look for Lionsgate to be pushing for a “Power Rangers” big-screen franchise.
The 2016 film will mark the third theatrical release for the franchise. “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie” capitalized on the property’s initial success, starring the original series cast and bringing in more than $66.4 million globally in 1995.
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It was followed by “Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie,” which served as a launchpad for the “Power Rangers Turbo” television series. But this second film failed to match the success of the first, earning less than $10 million globally.