Netflix, the famed streaming giant, is no stranger to the acquisition and adaptation of widely recognized franchises into movies and series offerings. A few years ago, they aggressively played in this avenue by securing the rights of the globally recognized brand Power Rangers. While their acquisition stirred a lot of anticipation among fans and industry insiders alike, the progress on this particular venture has been alarmingly slow.
Per the original expectations and subsequent announcements, Netflix had ambitious plans for Power Rangers. Unfortunately, recent developments suggest that the situation might not have panned out as anticipated.
TV Line, a credible source covering the television industry, recently reported that Netflix has decided to back out of its intended plans for the Power Rangers franchise. Regrettably, they have chosen to cancel the initiative, thereby abandoning the development of what could have potentially been a thriving animated series or films centered around the rich narrative the Power Rangers universe offers.
As a direct consequence of Netflix's decision, the rights to this iconic franchise will revert back to their initial holders, the renowned toy and media company Hasbro. Given the untapped potential that Power Rangers still holds, Hasbro will now seek to venture into uncharted creative waters and take a renewed and exciting approach to the franchise. The company plans to resell the rights of the show to any other entity that shows interest, leveraging this as an opportunity to breathe fresh life into the series while ideally staying true to the franchise’s core values.
This news could be disheartening for the Power Rangers enthusiast community who have been looking forward to Netflix's adaptation of the series, yet there seems to be a reason for the gaming world to celebrate with regard to upcoming Power Rangers-themed material.
Recently, during the Summer Game Fest - an event that brings together gaming enthusiasts across the globe - a new Power Rangers game was unveiled. Titled Power Rangers Rita's Rewind, this combat game embodies a vintage-style aesthetic that truly stands out. Developed by the capable hands at Digital Eclipse, the game was among the most talked-about announcements at the event, earning high praise and emerging as one of the most promising revelations of the game fest.
Gamers worldwide are now keenly looking forward to this latest addition to the Power Rangers universe. Fortunately, they won’t have to wait long, as the game is set to make its debut next year. It will be available for PCs and several as-yet-unnamed consoles. While precise details are yet to be confirmed by the developers, the gaming community speculates that Nintendo's Switch 2 could very well be one of the platforms on which the game will be released.