Everything felt like it was finally moving with the Power Rangers. After years of basically nothing but small updates and the occasional comic book, the buzz for a massive cinematic return hit a fever pitch. But honestly, if you've been following the trades lately, the situation with a new movie Power Rangers project is way more complicated than a simple "yes" or "no."
For a long time, everyone was looking at Netflix. The plan was huge. We’re talking a connected universe—movies, shows, the whole nine yards—spearheaded by Jonathan Entwistle. He’s the guy who did The End of the F*ing World, so fans were expecting something a bit more grounded, maybe even a little moody. But as of mid-2024, that specific Netflix dream sort of just... evaporated. The rights lapsed, the deal stalled, and the "Entwistle-verse" was shelved.
So, where does that leave us in 2026?
The Disney+ Pivot and the Death of the Movie Dream (For Now)
Here is the thing most people get wrong: the "new movie" everyone is Googling has actually shifted into a high-budget prestige series for Disney+.
It’s a weird full-circle moment since Disney used to own the Rangers back in the mid-2000s. Now, Hasbro (who still owns the brand) is partnering with 20th Television to bring a reboot to life on the small screen. But don't let the "TV" label fool you. The scale they're talking about is basically a multi-part movie.
Who is actually running the show?
The keys have been handed over to Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz. If those names sound familiar, it’s because they just knocked it out of the park with the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. They know how to handle a beloved IP that’s been burned by bad adaptations before.
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In a recent chat with MovieWeb in early 2026, Steinberg was pretty coy but confirmed the "rumor is true" regarding their involvement. They aren't just making another season of the show we grew up with. They are reinventing the whole thing from the ground up.
Why the New Movie Power Rangers Won't Look Like the Old Ones
One of the biggest shockers for long-time fans is the break from tradition. For thirty years, Power Rangers has basically been a "remix" of Japanese Super Sentai footage. You take the stunts from Japan, film some American teenagers in a park in California, and edit it together.
That's over.
The 2026 reboot is reportedly the first time the franchise will be 100% original footage. No more matching the grain of a show filmed in Tokyo six months ago. This gives the directors total creative freedom over the costumes, the monsters, and the Zord fights.
Filming and Casting Rumors
Word on the street—specifically from industry insiders like MyTimeToShineHello—is that filming is targeting a spring 2026 start date. They’re looking at locations in London and Toronto.
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As for who's under the helmets? The rumor mill is spinning fast. Some of the names popping up include:
- Shaun Dixon (from Disney's Vampirina)
- Momona Tamada (Ty Lee in Avatar: The Last Airbender)
- Paris Bravo
- Christian Alexander Cruz
There’s also some spicy talk about the villain. While everyone wants a new Rita Repulsa, some rumors suggest Priyanka Chopra was being eyed for a major antagonist role. Again, nothing is set in stone until we see the first trailer, but the caliber of talent being discussed is way higher than the usual "unknowns" we see in the franchise.
What Happened to the Lord Drakkon Movie?
We have to talk about Jonathan Entwistle’s scrapped plan because it was honestly kind of awesome. In an AMA not too long ago, he revealed his version was going to be a "time-bending huge story."
It was going to center on Tommy Oliver—obviously—but specifically the version of him called Lord Drakkon from the Boom! Studios comics. It would have featured "sentient colors" and a "King Arthur vibe." Sadly, that version of the new movie Power Rangers is dead. Hasbro seemingly wanted something more accessible for a broader Disney+ audience rather than a deep-dive into complex comic book multiverse lore.
The Playmates Factor: A Clue for the Future?
If you want to know what a franchise is doing, look at the toys. Hasbro recently made a massive deal with Playmates Toys (the people behind the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys).
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This is a big tell.
Playmates is specifically handling "Mighty Morphin" branded toys for the next few years. This suggests that while the new 2026 reboot is doing its own thing, Hasbro is keeping the classic 1993 nostalgia alive on the side to fund the new projects. It's a "one for them, one for us" strategy.
Addressing the "Super Sentai" Ending
There’s a lot of chatter about Super Sentai (the Japanese source material) potentially ending its 50-year run around 2026. If that happens, Power Rangers has to evolve. It literally won't have any more footage to adapt.
This is likely why Hasbro is pushing so hard for this original Disney+ series. They are future-proofing the brand. They want Power Rangers to be a global powerhouse like Marvel or Star Wars, not just a show that recycles stunts.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're waiting for the return of the Morphin Grid, here is what you should actually be doing to stay in the loop:
- Watch the trades for "20th Television" news: Since they are the studio producing the reboot for Disney+, that’s where the real casting calls will leak.
- Follow the Percy Jackson production cycle: Steinberg and Shotz are finishing up Percy Jackson Season 3 right now. Once that wraps in March 2026, expect the Power Rangers news to move into overdrive.
- Don't buy into "Fan Posters": You've seen them on Facebook—the ones with Zac Efron as the Red Ranger. They’re fake. Every single one of them.
- Keep an eye on May 2026: There's a one-shot mystery comic coming out then that is rumored to have ties to the new creative direction of the reboot.
The reality of a new movie Power Rangers in 2026 is that it’s not a movie at all—it's something much bigger. We’re looking at a total cultural reset of the brand. It’s a gamble, sure. But after years of the franchise spinning its wheels, a high-budget, original-footage reboot on Disney+ is exactly what the fans actually need to keep the legacy alive for another thirty years.