Growing up in the 90’s was awesome. We had Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Pokémon, Goosebumps and countless other franchises that had blown all of our tiny, little minds. In recent years, these franchises have trickled into the new generation although they’ve always felt like lame attempts at recapturing their former glory. To put it bluntly, the 90’s were the golden years. However a couple of years ago, Joseph Kahn released a tounge-in-cheek short that depicted the Power Rangers in a ‘dark and gritty’ manner. Full of R-rated violence and some solid fighting choreography, this re-imagining recaptured the hearts of many fans from the past.
Well now Lionsgate/Saban Films have a reboot in the works which is due for release next year. Although it may not be heading in the same direction of the short film that had set the internet ablaze, it will however try and balance many aspects of what made the original work with a modern edge. With a handful of pictures having already been released, we now have another in the form of Rita Repulsa, portrayed by Elizabeth Banks, who has the Yellow Ranger pinned up against a wall. With Rita Repulsa’s costume looking as flamboyant as ever, loyal fans won’t have to worry too much about this new adaption deviating too far from the original series:
The Yellow Ranger’s Becky G recently spoke to EW about the filming process and why Repulsa is targeting her specifically:
“Rita tries to make Trini feel like she’s the weakest link of the Power Rangers, and she feels it’s easier to go for her. Rita’s the type to play a lot of mind games, and Trini’s [thinking], “Can I really overpower Rita Repulsa or can I not?”
She then went onto talk briefly about the physicality that was involved within the fights scenes:
“She chokes me and throws me up against a wall, and I actually told her, “Don’t be afraid to put pressure on my neck.” [Laughs] Little did I know the next day I’d actually have bruises and feel a little sore. “
Before finally revealing how it felt to see Elizabeth Banks in full costume:
“For me, it was so cool, because [during our rehearsals], we’re just hanging out in our regular civilian clothes, in sweats and stuff, but then when we went in to film it, there were all kinds of people there, and I feel the pressure, because, you know, it’s my first film, and I’m working with A-list actors like Elizabeth, I was nervous. And then when she walks in, not in sweatpants but in full Rita Repulsa costume, I’m like, “This is gonna be so easy, because she looks so real!”
Power Rangers will hit theaters March 24th, 2017.
Are you excited for this reboot? Or would you much prefer the Adi Shankar produced, gritty reboot? Sound off down below!
Source: EW