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Power Rangers Film Unveils Elizabeth Banks in Costume as Rita Repulsa
posted on by Karen Ressler
People magazine shared the first image of actress Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games' Effie Trinket) in costume as Rita Repulsa for the new Power Rangers film on Tuesday.
Banks told people that her character is "definitely a modern and edgy re-imagining of the original Rita Repulsa," and that she's looking forward to "being unpredictable as a character."
Banks added, "We wanted to give her a backstory that connects her to the new Rangers."
Lionsgate describes the film:
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 R.J. Cyler as the Blue Ranger Billy, Naomi Scott as the Pink Ranger Kimberly, Ludi Lin as the Black Ranger Zack, Dacre Montgomery as the Red Ranger Jason, and Becky Gomez as the Yellow Ranger Trini. In addition, David Denman will play Sam Scott, the father or the Red Ranger.
Dean Israelite (Project Almanac) is on board to direct the film. John Gatins (Kong: Skull Island, Real Steel), Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama (Dracula Untold), Max Landis (Chronicle), and Zack Stentz and Ashley Miller (X-Men: First Class, Thor) are scriptwriters for the film.
Brian Tyler (Avengers: Age of Ultron, Dragonball: Evolution) is composing the film's score. Kelli Jones (Straight Outta Compton, Sons of Anarchy) is serving as costume designer, Hamish Purdy (The Revenant) is in charge of set design, and Weta Workshop (The Lord of the Rings) is handling suit design and visual effects. Paul Jennings is the stunt coordinator, Andrew Menzies is the production designer, and Matt Lloyd is director of photography.
Allison Shearmur and Brent O'Connor are serving as executive producers. Haim Saban, Brian Casentini (Power Rangers TV series), Wyck Godfrey, and Marty Bowen are producing the film.
The film is planned for a March 2017 release.
Actor and MMA fighter Jason David Frank, who starred in the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers television series as Tommy Oliver, said he plans to appear in the film in "cameos at least."
The Power Rangers franchise previously inspired two live-action films from 20th Century Fox: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie opened in theaters in 1995 and Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie opened in theaters in 1997.
Source: People; Jodi Gugliemi via The Tokusatsu Network
