Fans of the Power Rangers unlocked a new trailer for the upcoming reboot film, Saban’s Power Rangers from director Dean Israelite, after 75,000 Facebook users liked a live video stream. After coming together and uniting like the real Power Rangers would, Lionsgate unleashed the third trailer, and friends, it’s a mighty one. And it comes with a sweet mention of two of Marvel’s biggest heroes, Iron Man and Spider-Man.
This third, new trailer is shorter than the previous two for Saban’s Power Rangers, which stars Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa and Bryan Cranston as Zordon. Once again, the trailer shows five Angel Grove teenagers discovering the Power Coins, which gives them unbelievable superpowers. When Zordon, the wise alien sage who will mentor them, asks “Any other questions?” Billy (RJ Cyler) returns with a question of his own: “Are we more like Iron Man or Spider-Man?” What a nerd!
The Marvel reference is fun, cute, and helps establish not only that the Power Rangers are superheroes but also live in a world similar to our own. Hardcore fans know Stan Lee himself was a fan of Toei’s Super Sentai from Japan and wanted to adapt those TV superheroes for American audiences in the mid-‘80s. Lee failed to sell it, allowing media producer Haim Saban to pitch it himself. Saban successfully sold it in 1992, creating the nostalgic series that’s become a camp classic.
There’s also the first visual of Jason, the Red Ranger (Dacre Montgomery) using his signature Power Sword for the first time. The trailer ends with a hilarious moment of Alpha 5 (Bill Hader), pounding a simulated Putty golem while screaming “YEAH! POWER RANGERS!” like a five-year-old, or like me when I finally see this movie.
Lionsgate is hoping Power Rangers kickstarts a new superhero franchise, and nostalgic ‘90s enthusiasts and die-hard fans who cosplay at conventions alike seem intent to make that happen. Unlike other tentpole movies like The Hunger Games, which tend to be adaptations of popular books, Saban’s Power Rangers is based on a TV show that’s been going on for over 20 years. The show just entered its 24th season in a series called Power Rangers Ninja Steel; it airs on Nickelodeon.
Saban’s Power Rangers will be released on March 24.
