Break out your Power Coin and start singing the theme song because the brand spanking new Power Rangers movie is now in production! What, you thought they were going to give up on a new Power Rangers movie? You know they are up to like, Season 20 right? IT WAS INEVITABLE! Joking aside, the new movie has quite the pedigree in terms of cast and members of the production staff. Elizabeth Banks as Rita? Sign me up! Guess that explains that whole ‘granny panties’ thing, eh? The below is the official press release detailing all of the important facts and casting news regarding the brand new movie. They’ll probably have to wait a bit before using Ivan Ooze again since he is appearing in X-Men: Apocalypse!
SANTA MONICA, Calif. and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a premier next generation global content leader, announced that production on Saban’s Power Rangers will commence today in Vancouver. The film stars Elizabeth Banks as arch-villain Rita Repulsa, along with new Power Rangers Dacre Montgomery, RJ Cyler, Naomi Scott, Becky G, and Ludi Lin. The film is a production of Lionsgate and Saban Brands.
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.
The film stars Dacre Montgomery (A Few Less Men) as Jason the Red Ranger, RJ Cyler (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) as Billy the Blue Ranger, Naomi Scott (The 33) as Kimberly the Pink Ranger, Becky G (Empire) as Trini the Yellow Ranger, Ludi Lin (Monster Hunt) as Zack the Black Ranger, and Elizabeth Banks (Pitch Perfect, The Hunger Games franchise) as Rita Repulsa.
Directed by Dean Israelite (Project Almanac),Saban’s Power Rangers is written by John Gatins (Kong: Skull Island, Real Steel), Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama(Dracula Untold), Zack Stentz and Ashley Miller (X-Men: First Class, Thor), and Max Landis (Chronicle). Producers are Power Rangers creator Haim Saban, Brian Casentini (Power Rangers TVseries), Wyck Godfrey, and Marty Bowen (The Twilight Saga, The Fault in Our Stars, The Maze Runner franchise).
Allison Shearmur (The Hunger Games franchise; Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and Brent O’Connor (Warcraft) serve as executive producers. Brian Tyler (Avengers: Age of Ultron; Now You See Me) is the composer and Kelli Jones (Straight Outta Compton, Sons of Anarchy)is the costume designer. Set decorator is Oscar-nominated Hamish Purdy (The Revenant) and stunt coordinator is Paul Jennings (Game of Thrones, San Andreas, The Dark Knight). Weta Workshop (The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, District 9) is in charge of suit design and visual effects. Andrew Menzies (Fury, X-Men) is the production designer and Director of Photography is Matt Lloyd (Daredevil, Cop Car).