For fans of the 1990s colorful phenomenon, the 2017 cinematic reboot of Power Rangers felt like the start of a sprawling modern era. With a high-profile cast and a modern aesthetic, the film aimed to translate the campy charm of the original series into a contemporary blockbuster franchise. However, the reality of the studio balance sheet often outweighs creative ambition.
Dacre Montgomery, who portrayed the Red Ranger, recently shed light on the ambitious plans that never materialized, revealing that the Power Rangers star on lack of sequels was not for a lack of contractual intent, but rather a result of the film’s financial performance. Montgomery confirmed that he and his fellow cast members had signed four-picture deals with Lionsgate, mirroring the structural strategy the studio used for The Hunger Games.
Despite the excitement surrounding the project, the film struggled to maintain its momentum after a promising start. While it opened domestically with over $40 million, the theatrical run proved to be front-loaded, ultimately failing to recoup the investment required to greenlight the planned sequels.
The Financial Gap and the ‘Four-Picture’ Dream
The disconnect between the film’s creative aspirations and its commercial outcome is evident in the numbers. Produced on a budget of $100 million, the film earned approximately $85 million in North America and $57 million overseas, bringing its global total to $142 million. When factoring in the split with theaters, the film is estimated to have lost Lionsgate roughly $74 million.
Speaking while promoting the Faces of Death remake, Montgomery reflected on the experience as a pivotal moment in his early career. He described the period as the most formative of his life, coming after a decade of striving for a breakthrough role.
“It was my first job. It was literally the most formative period of my life. Like after wanting to be an actor for 10 years and not getting hired, and then getting that film, and yeah, it was a four-picture deal with Lionsgate. Similar sort of structure to what they did with Hunger Games. The same studio at the same time.
Had a lot of ambitions. It had a lot of creative expansion of the franchise, of the IP. I had the best time with those cast. You understand we’ve spoken about it before. They’re all amazing, including RJ. It was going to be a whole big thing, but what can you do, right? We’re talking about money, and big business, and it didn’t recoup or make enough on the investment that the studio had made to continue making more.”
The cast, which included Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler, Becky G, and Ludi Lin—supported by veterans like Bryan Cranston and Elizabeth Banks—had been positioned as the faces of a new cinematic universe. The “creative expansion” Montgomery mentioned suggested a roadmap that would have likely explored deeper lore or new Ranger teams, similar to the trajectory of other successful IP-driven franchises.
A History of Development Hell
The struggle to bring a successful Power Rangers project back to the screen has continued long after the 2017 film left theaters. The intellectual property has transitioned through several hands and platforms, often stalling in the development phase.
In 2020, Netflix attempted to breathe new life into the franchise with a television series reboot. The project was slated to be showrun by Jonathan Entwistle and Jenny Klein, but after four years of development, the series was scrapped in 2024. This pattern of “start-and-stop” development has left the fanbase in a state of perpetual anticipation.
| Year | Project | Status | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Lionsgate Feature Film | Released | Financial loss; no sequels |
| 2020 | Netflix Series Reboot | In Development | Scrapped in 2024 |
| Recent | Disney+ Series | Reported | Under development |
The instability of the franchise’s future is partly due to the shifting ownership of the IP. Montgomery noted that he believed Saban may have sold the rights, a move that often triggers a “reset” in how a studio approaches a brand. When a new entity acquires a property, they frequently opt for a complete reboot rather than continuing the narrative threads of a previous, financially unsuccessful attempt.
The Path Forward: Disney+ and the New Guard
Despite the lack of sequels for the 2017 cast, the franchise is not dormant. Current reports indicate that the duo of Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz—known for their work on Percy Jackson and the Olympians—are currently handling a new television version of the series for the Disney+ service.
This shift from theatrical releases to a streaming-first model reflects a broader industry trend. By utilizing a series format, studios can build a world more organically and gauge audience interest without the immediate, high-risk pressure of a $100 million opening weekend.
For Montgomery, there is no bitterness regarding the missed opportunity for sequels. Instead, he expressed optimism for whoever takes over the mantle. “I hear they’re rebooting it again,” he said. “I’m excited for the future of that. Power Rangers means a great deal to a lot of people. Whoever steps into those shoes, I know that they’ll be great, and I had the best time.”
The next significant checkpoint for the franchise will be the official announcement or trailer for the Disney+ series, which will determine if the brand can finally find a sustainable footing in the modern era of peak TV. We invite you to share your thoughts on the 2017 film and the future of the Rangers in the comments below.
Keep reading
