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Hasbro to Take Over As Toy Licensee for Power Rangers Franchise
posted on by Karen Ressler
Hasbro and Saban Brands announced on Friday that Hasbro will be the global master toy licensee for Saban's Power Rangers franchise, outside of Japan and other Asian markets, beginning on April 1, 2019. The first products are slated for spring 2019. According to the press release, the agreement also provides both parties with "the opportunity to initiate Hasbro's purchase of the Power Rangers property."
As part of the license agreement, Hasbro will design, produce, and sell a variety of "toys, games, and role play items." Hasbro chairman and CEO Brian Goldner told The Hollywood Reporter that Hasbro's products will cover both past and present installments in the Power Rangers franchise.
The Hollywood Reporter also noted that the partnership is in part due to the friendship between Goldner and Saban Brands founder Haim Saban. Saban said that he has been friends with Goldner since Goldner worked at Bandai, the previous toy licensee for Power Rangers.
Saban Brands had announced on Thursday that it will discontinue its toy license agreement with Bandai America in April. Bandai will still support the Power Rangers franchise up to its 25th anniversary, and will also support the currently-airing Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel show. Bandai still maintains toy rights to Toei's Super Sentai series, from which the Power Rangers franchise is based.
Nickelodeon is currently airing Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel, the second season sequel to the Power Rangers Ninja Steel series, and the 25th entry in the Power Rangers franchise. The series premiered on January 27. The show uses footage from Toei's ninja-themed Shuriken Sentai Ninninger series, which premiered in February 2015, and marks the 40th anniversary of Toei's Super Sentai franchise.
Saban Brands recently renewed its partnership with Nickelodeon until 2021.
A Power Rangers film opened in the United States last March. The film earned an estimated US$84,234,169 in the United States and a worldwide total of about US$140 million. The film's director Dean Israelite reported last summer that Lionsgate and Saban were in talks for a sequel.
Sources: Business Wire, The Hollywood Reporter (Graeme McMillan)
