Let's face it, Power Rangers was and will continue to be a very tough sell. The series, better known as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers to its millions of hardcore fans, was huge back in the '90s for its campy characters and weird monsters. But the reboot, much like the attempted redo of Jem and the Holograms from last year, looked completely different from the light-hearted take many had loved before. And now as the first Power Rangers trailer arrives fresh out of New York Comic-Con we're seeing just how dark and serious this remake really is.
The particulars haven't really changed, though. Starring Dacre Montgomery as Jason the Red Ranger, RJ Cyler as Billy the Blue Ranger, Naomi Scott as Kimberly the Pink Ranger, Becky G as Trini the Yellow Ranger and Ludi Lin as Zack the Black Ranger, the film still follows a group of high schoolers chosen to defend their neighborhood and the world against the villain Rita Repulsa, played by Elizabeth Banks.
And mostly this footage focuses on the troubled experiences these misfit teens are having in their lives before acquiring the power of the Rangers. From there it's all about learning to use their new abilities until we finally get the tiniest glimpse as they begin to suit up, but even then it's handled with mystery rather than fun.
All in all, my first thought after this trailer was that it looked a lot like last year's Fantastic Four. The tone wasn't appropriate then and I'm not sure it works here, either. I'm willing to keep an open mind, though, since the original series never worked for me anyway.
Directed by Dean Israelite with Bryan Cranston as Zordon and Bill Hader as Alpha 5, Power Rangers opens next year on March 24th.
