More than 30 years after becoming a smash hit in the United States, the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers cast is reuniting for a brand new special.
The news was announced by Netflix on their official Twitter account, with the special — titled Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always — set to premiere on April 19, 2023. Not too much is known about the special as of now, but Netflix did reveal that it will “reunite some of the franchise’s most beloved Rangers,” including stars David Yost, Walter E. Jones, and Barbara Goodson, the voice of Rita Repulsa.
A handful of images from the special were also shared, showing off Yost and Jones as the Blue and Black Ranger, respectively, as well as some other characters from the show.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly in an interview about the news, Yost said that it was great to work with everyone from the original cast, but that he was especially excited to get to work with Walter E. Jones again. “We went through the audition process together and launched the Power Rangers franchise,” said Yost. “It was such a surreal experience to be on the set of Power Rangers again after 28 years.”
Elsewhere in Entertainment Weekly’s exclusive on the show, the special will see the Rangers going on a new adventure, and also have them 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.”
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers originally premiered in 1993, adapting stock footage from the Japanese TV series Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. Following its premiere, the series became a cultural phenomenon, spawning a huge line of toys, action figures, and more, as well as a litany of spin-offs and films based on the series. The original series ran for a total of three seasons and 145 episodes, before coming to an end in 1995.