Exciting news for fans of the iconic franchise: Power Rangers is reportedly gearing up for a new live-action series set to premiere on Disney+. According to The Wrap, Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz, the masterminds behind the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, are in discussions to take on the roles of writers, showrunners, and producers for this ambitious project, which is being developed in collaboration with 20th Century TV.
Hasbro, the current owner of the Power Rangers brand, aims to strike a delicate balance with this series by reinventing the franchise to captivate a new generation while simultaneously keeping the loyal fanbase engaged and excited. This approach reflects Hasbro's vision for the franchise, which they acquired from Saban Properties in 2018 for a staggering $522 million.
The image above harks back to the nostalgia of the '90s, a time when The Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers became essential viewing for a generation of kids. These young viewers idolized the show's teenage superheroes and marveled at their colossal mechs, capable of merging into an even more formidable machine.
Upon acquiring Power Rangers, Hasbro's then-Chairman and CEO, Brian Goldner, expressed great optimism about the franchise's future, 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 vision underscores Hasbro's belief in the "tremendous upside potential" of the Power Rangers brand.
The acquisition followed a disappointing attempt to relaunch the franchise with a 2017 movie reboot that attempted a darker, grittier take on the Power Rangers universe. Unfortunately, the film's poor box office performance led to the cancellation of planned sequels, prompting Saban to sell the rights to Hasbro shortly thereafter.
Hasbro's expansive portfolio also includes other high-profile projects such as a live-action Dungeons & Dragons series titled The Forgotten Realms, currently in development at Netflix, an animated Magic: The Gathering series also slated for Netflix, and plans for a Magic: The Gathering cinematic universe. These ventures highlight Hasbro's commitment to leveraging its iconic brands across various media platforms to engage fans old and new.
