"Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" 30th Anniv. Special Set for April 19th on Netflix

[JamesG]

Original Power Rangers Stars Reunite for 30th Anniversary Netflix Special
by Patrick Gomez
January 17, 2023


Once a Ranger, always a Ranger. Three decades after becoming an afternoon phenomenon, members of the original "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" cast are reuniting for a scripted Netflix special celebrating the enduring legacy of Haim Saban's creation.

"Our Ranger family runs deep," Walter Emanuel Jones tells EW of getting to play Zack, the Black Ranger, 30 years later.





Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always stars Jones, David Yost (original Blue Ranger, Billy), Catherine Sutherland (second Pink Ranger, Kat), Steve Cardenas (second Red Ranger, Rocky), Karan Ashley (second Yellow Ranger, Aisha) and Johnny Yong Bosch (second Black Ranger, Adam).

For Yost — the longest-running original Ranger, who left the series in 1996 after four seasons and more than 200 episodes — the special is a reunion with all of the returning cast. But he says suiting up with Jones again is particularly special.

"We went through the audition process together and launched the Power Rangers franchise," Yost explains of his costar, who himself calls their reunion "amazing. It was such a surreal experience to be on the set of Power Rangers again after 28 years."





The special also features Barbara Goodson (voice of Rita Repulsa), Richard Horvitz (voice of Alpha 5), and new addition Charlie Kersh as Minh, the daughter of original Yellow Ranger Trini.

(Trini was played by Thuy Trang, who died at 27 in 2001 after being involved in a car accident.)

There is no word if other original cast members are involved, or if the special will tribute original Green Ranger Tommy actor Jason David Frank, who died at 49 by suicide in 2022.




Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always premieres April 19 worldwide on Neftflix.

As described by the team behind 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. Inspired by the legendary mantra from the franchise 'Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger,' Once & Always reminds everyone when you become a Ranger, you are always a part of the Ranger family and always welcome."

https://ew.com/tv/original-power-ran...-video-photos/

[JamesG]

Original Pink Ranger, Amy Jo Johnson, Explains Absence from Netflix Special
by Patrick Gomez
January 18, 2023


Actress Amy Jo Johnson tweeted her response on Wednesday to fans asking her about not being part of the recently announced Netflix reunion special Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always.

"For the record, I never said no… I just didn't say yes to what was offered," wrote Johnson, who left the series in season 2 after 137 episodes.

She added, "But other fun stuff is in store! Looking forward to watching my friends kick ass!"

https://ew.com/tv/power-rangers-netf...lains-absence/

[JamesG]

[JamesG]

Amy Jo Johnson on her Absence from "Power Rangers" Reunion Special: It's "Simply Not True" it was About Money
by Claire Franken
March 26, 2023


The original Pink Power Ranger is busy fighting rumors.

Amy Jo Johnson first explained in a January tweet, “I never said no” to participating in the special. “I just didn’t say yes to what was offered.”



But Johnson has now clarified that her declining to appear had nothing to do with money, as some went on to speculate.

“Please stop saying I didn’t do [the] reunion because of money,” she wrote. “Simply not true. Maybe I just didn’t want to wear spandex in my 50s, or couldn’t go to [film in New Zealand] for a month. Or none of your beeswax.”



Johnson also addressed her co-star Jason David Frank, the original Green-turned-White Ranger, who died in November 2022.

“JDF and I both chose not to [do the reunion movie] for our own reasons,” she wrote. “They filmed before he passed.”

https://tvline.com/2023/03/26/power-...my-jo-johnson/

[JamesG]

Amy Jo Johnson has 30th Anniversary "Power Rangers" Comic in the Works
by Patrick Gomez
March 31, 2023


After raising $250,000 in less than 24 hours via a Kickstarter campaign for the "Power Rangers: A 30th Anniversary Comic Book Celebration," Amy Jo Johnson will write a brand new "Power Rangers" comic book series with publisher Boom Studios, Variety announced on Friday.

The idea for the project — which Johnson will write with her boyfriend, director Matt Hotson — sparked during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.



"I was daydreaming about it and mentioned it to my boyfriend, Matt. He said, 'Why don't you try to write it as a comic book?' We had all the time on our hands, so we daydreamed up this entire comic book series," the former Ranger told Variety.

"It has been so hard to sit on this and not talk about it for a year — three, really," she continues, adding that the new series will be "different" from the original, "in the sense that it's my version."

https://ew.com/tv/pink-power-ranger-...-announcement/

[JamesG]

Amy Jo Johnson Teases "Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers" Short Story Ahead of Comic Book Series 2024 Release
by Armando Tinoco
June 24, 2023


Amy Jo Johnson is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers her own way. The Pink Ranger is releasing a short story and shared the news on social media with all of her fans.

“No spoilers! Just overly excited to be working with [Francesco Mortarino] on our Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Anniversary Special Short Story! Got our page layouts yesterday. And it’s looking incredible! Can’t wait to share this teaser with you all,” Johnson posted on Instagram.

The short story, which is set to be made available on August 30th, is a teaser that “sets up our MMPR comic book series coming out early 2024.”

https://deadline.com/2023/06/amy-jo-...se-1235423926/