The year was 1993, and Haim Saban acquired the rights to adapt the long-running Super Sentai series, bringing to America (and the world): The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and as we look back from 2023, for 30 years, and for 30 seasons, the Power of the Grid has inspired generations even with the rights being sold back and forth from Saban to Disney, back to Saban and eventually to the current owners in HASBRO.
The franchise has stood strong across decades, expanding beyond television to the big screen multiple times and several successful comic book runs. So it is with delight and excitement that fans look onto the horizon as the eagerly awaited 30thAnniversary fast approaches, and with the backing of Netflix and Hasbro, who have big plans for the franchises future, there is much to look forward to. So here’s EVERYTHING you need to know about the 30th Anniversary of POWER RANGERS.
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always
Though it has been confirmed for a while, Walter Jones (Original Black Ranger Zach), David Yost (original Blue Ranger Billy), Catherine Sutherland (second Pink Ranger Kat), as well as Steve Cardenas (second Red Ranger Rocky), Karan Ashley (second Yellow Ranger Aisha) , and Johnny Yong Bosch (second Black Ranger Adam) will all be returning for the special. No word on the absence of Austin St. John’s Jason, but we learned from Amy Jo Johnson’s (Original Pink Ranger Kimberly) twitter that while the actress was invited, she refused what is alluded to be a low-ball offer. Sadly too, we know that Jason David Frank sadly passed away back in November 2022, so the legendary Tommy Oliver will not be appearing, however we do see the Green Ranger in the line-up of Rangers present in the behind-the-scenes look of the special. It’ll make for a bittersweet celebration, but the franchise has never shied away from celebrating its history, so one way or another, Tommy will have a presence.
From this behind-the-scenes footage which features talking head segments from the cast, director, and writers, we’ve also learned the 30th Anniversary event will NOT be an episode of the new Cosmic Fury season, but rather a special onto itself. We also now have somewhat of a synopsis for the special:
“The new adventure sees the Rangers come face to face with a familiar threat from the past. In the midst of a global crisis, they are called on once again to be the heroes the world needs”. – This seems to indicate a strong connection, as to be expected, between the special and the new upcoming COSMIC FURY season of Power Rangers, where the Dino Fury team heads off into space to chase Lord Zedd, the most fearsome of Ranger villains who made his presence known back in the second season of the original Mighty Morphin era. A fitting connection that ties back to the legendary mantra of the franchise ‘Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger’.
But the anticipation doesn’t end there, the special will not only bring back MORE familiar faces, such as Barbara Goodson (voice of Rita Repulsa), Richard Horvitz (Alpha 5), and new addition Charlie Kersh as Minh, the daughter of original Yellow Ranger Trini, wh was played by Thuy Trang, who died at 27 in 2001 after being involved in a car accident.
The special will bring all legendary characters & new to Netflix worldwide on April 19th.
But that is not all!
- Power Rangers Cosmic Fury
Lord Zedd playing the big bad part across seasons and teams isn’t the only connection between the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and the upcoming Cosmic Fury. As the 30th season also marks the first in the franchise since 1993 where the entire Ranger team will return for a new season. The Hasbro/eOne team says: “Power Rangers: Cosmic Fury continues the adventures of Power Rangers: Dino Fury, with the team embarking on a journey through outer space as they unlock new Cosmic powers and defend the universe against the returning infamous villain Lord Zedd”.
Fans have rejoiced with this historic decision, and will be happy to see Russell Curry (Zayto), Hunter Deno (Amelia), Kainalu Moya (Ollie), Tessa Rao (Izzy), Javi (Chance Perez) and Aiyon (Jordon T. Fite) all returning to not only a new season, but an all-original series, mirroring the making of seasons 2 and 3 of Mighty Morphin, Cosmic Fury will use certain elements of the Sentai series Uchu Sentai Kyuranger such as Zords and certain iconography, but the all new suits, morphers & weapons (pictured), characters and storyline will be entirely original, as first for the 30 year-old franchise.
The firsts for the franchise don’t end here however, as Cosmic Fury cast took to Instagram to reveal we will also see Dino Fury Pink Ranger Amelia (Hunter Deno) take off the pink to become the Cosmic Fury Red Ranger, becoming the first full-time female Red Ranger in franchise history.
No further details have been revealed from the EW interview or the Hasbro Pulse, but the franchise is just ramping up the celebration across series, special, comics and perhaps even more as we approach April, with the Hasbro playing their cards close to their chest, the future of the franchise is bright and more promising than ever.
The Power has protected Rangers and fans for 30 years, so there is no reason to believe they will stop any time soon, and we will be here to celebrate alongside the protectors of the grid.
