In a turnabout from its marketing campaign thus far, which has been rolling out teases of Zords and posters of the costumes, the first real look at Lionsgate‘s new Power Rangers reboot offers little in the way of effects or aliens, focusing instead on the characters and the reality grounded elements. It’s an interesting tack considering that Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, at least as interpreted in the U.S., was never especially reliant on realism of any sort. This trailer seems arguably more aimed at the generation who were parents of the first MMPR fans, and for whom the dynamic of a group of misfits thrown together in Saturday morning detention only to learn how to work together in defying authority has a particular John Hughes childhood resonance.
Director Dean Israelite captured that sort of group dynamic in Project Almanac, about a group of teens who discover time travel, and he’s playing to a similar vibe here, one that also recalls Josh Trank’s Chronicle, an above-average found-footage superhero flick that was a big breakthrough for Dane DeHaan and Michael B. Jordan. It remains to be seen which of the young actors here might benefit most, but they all seem more grounded than the deliberately broad portrayals on the old show. Will Bulk and Skull, as yet unannounced, fit into this world? Will Bill Hader‘s Alpha 5 be as grim as the rest of this world is looking? One thing’s for sure: this does not look like any TV iteration. And I certainly never thought I’d hear a cover of “I Walk the Line” morph into the first beats of the Power Rangers theme. Now that’s transformative.
Are you in for this new take on a fan classic? It’s commentin’ time!
Image: Lionsgate
