Following a dormant period off the cultural radar, the Power Rangers are, ahem, powering up for another go on the big screen. Lionsgate has Project Almanac‘s Dean Israelite at the helm of the tween superhero flick, working from a script by X-Men scribes Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz. A combination of their respective talents point towards a unique slant on the exhausted Power Rangers IP. And while little has been revealed from the studio about what we can expect when those hypercolor heroes burst back into the public sphere, a stream of new intel has just landed.
Over on Collider, a set of character names and biographies have surfaced. Clueing us in on the teen quintet’s backgrounds, it’s a goldmine of information that’s sure to be of interest to those die-hard fans of the Mighty Morphin gang.
Check out the full rundown below:
Jason – 17 years old, the makings of someone or something great if he would just get out of his own way. Jason was a legend of this town—a freshman quarterback with the skills to take him all the way. People knew his name. Children wore his jersey. Until, one night Jason wrapped his car around a pole and busted out his knee. Everything Jason was going to become ended in an instant. And with it, he lost himself. When we meet him at the start of the film, he’s a kid in need of redemption. By the end, he’ll be leading this disparate group of teens to shed their individual baggage and find who they truly are.
Kimberly – 17 years old, unconventionally cool all in a way the popular girls wish they were. In fact, she was one of those girls, but isn’t anymore. Not since she’s returned to school after an absence of 6 months. Rumors are flying as to why; rumors she seems not to care about, because she’s come back with this new rebel-without-a-cause, edgy attitude. But the truth is, it’s all masking a deep secret that makes her feel profoundly vulnerable
Trini – 17 years old, mysterious and extremely bright. Her parents constantly move for work, making Trini the perpetual new girl to any school. A loner who owns it, Trini is self-sufficient, contemplative, but always observant. All she wants is to find her gang of friends, but she’ll never admit it – least of all to herself.
Billy – 17 years old, slight and awkward. Billy is challenged in his abilities to communicate and interact socially. Whip-smart and sweet, but always odd. Sometimes in a fun way, sometimes not, Billy is a kid with no filter. Showing his emotions, understanding sarcasm, and dealing with his OCD is a constant challenge. Has never really had any friends and instantly gravitates towards Jason.
Zack – 17 years old, always the life of the party. Filled with bravado and swagger, Zack’s tough and cool on the exterior. A charming guy who’s never had trouble with the one-liner, nor lacked confidence around women. A great athlete that’s never wanted to play on any team but his own. Zack advertises everything about himself, except the truth, which is that he lives in a trailer park with his single mom, and because of it, feels deeply inferior to all his peers.
By the sounds of things, it’s business as usual for a movie that’s aiming to capture the pre-teen market. Even going off of Israelite’s earlier comments – dubbing it a “mature yet playful” take on the franchise – the general traits of the five wouldn’t sound out of place in an MTV series. Of course, should we be making assumptions on characters prior to casting? If the industry has taught us anything, it’s that stereotypes are perfect tools for subversion.
The Power Rangers reboot arrives in theaters on January 13, 2017.
