A reboot of our favorite 90’s show – the Power Rangers has hit the big screen. Once more we are able to see all of our beloved characters, but, in a different light. Most of the mystery in this reboot revolves around the story of Rita Repulsa, played by Elizabeth Banks, so we were more than thrilled when Banks decided to reveal some details about Rita’s future.
It is Finally Here!
With premiere behind us, the hype has never been more real! Lionsgate spent an estimated $105 million to bring this reboot to the screen, and with the great impression this movie made on critics, we have a feeling that they are in for a big payoff. The screenplay for the film was written by John Gatins, and it was directed by Dean Israelite.
According to the official synopsis, this is the plot: “Saban’s Power Rangers follows five ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove – and the world – is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat. Chosen by destiny, our heroes quickly discover that they are the only ones who can save the planet. But to do so they will have to overcome their real-life issues and band together as the Power Rangers before it is too late.”
Even though it is not visible from the synopsis, this new version has been applauded for its progressive plotting. It shows the first big-screen LGBT superhero together with a lead character who is shown as being autistic.
The original Blue Ranger, David Yost is among those who are cheering the movie on because of these daring inclusive steps. And, it is understandable, since he had to leave the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers back in the 90s because of homophobic bullying he was exposed to by the crew members.
The cast for this movie is full of interesting choices. Dacre Montgomery is the Red Ranger, RJ Cyler is the Blue Ranger, Becky G is the Yellow Ranger, Naomi Scott is the Pink Ranger and Ludi Lin is the Black Raner. Zordon is fabulously portrayed by Bryan Cranston’s head. This film kept the classic Saban villain – Rita Repulsa and she is played by Elizabeth Banks.
The Most Intriguing Character
Now, the film might be interesting, but everything else fades away in front of Elizabeth Bank’s performance as Rita, since the woman is honestly enjoying being the bad guy! A cackling alien witch with a perfect ponytail, wielding a scepter in her obsessive search for crystals got everybody’s attention. In this iteration, she is more like a mix of Reptile from Mortal Kombat and Poison Ivy than like the old crazy lady from the original, but despite being this different, she is still amazing. This modern and edgy re-imagining of Rita Repulsa is probably the main reason Banks took the role.
In the original show, Rita was the first enemy the Power Rangers encountered, as they were recruited in order to stop her from adding Earth to her list of conquered planets. In that show, she is a powerful witch. She is capable of teleportation, mind control, summoning monsters and making them enormous to battle the Rangers and their Zords.
Interestingly, a brand new backstory has linked her to the Power Rangers closer than ever. Banks commented on the future of her character in potential sequels of Power Rangers, saying “I mean, we are just here in this moment right now… *Laughs* Hoping that the fans embrace the movie, hoping people love it, ya know? I think, I mean I love it, and I had so much fun, I think it’s really fun, I think it speaks to young people, in a great, fresh way, um I love this cast, so I’m, I’m down for whatever, but I… I don’t predict the future, I don’t predict the future.”
So, okay, she is ready to go on with this, which doesn’t come as a surprise, since the galactic sorceress is one of the most recognizable characters of the franchise.
But, her future is still uncertain, as we wait for audience’s reactions to her. If Banks’s character gets labeled as stale, she is gone, but, from what we hear, she is anything but! The actress even stated that this is her first time to play a villain and that she is even „looking forward to world domination and being unpredictable as a character.“
There’s an interesting theory that in this version, Rita was actually the former Green Ranger. Here’s why. In trailers released for this film, Rita is more dangerous than ever, and, in one of the clips, she is seen holding Kimberly’s neck as she pushes her on the wall. At that moment she reveals an important secret to the Pink Ranger. She claims that long time ago, she was also a ranger. This would explain why she is wearing an all-green costume so different from her TV outfit. It is great that we no longer have to wait to find out if this theory is true, soon we will get to go the cinema and check it out!