Production on Power Rangers is officially leaving New Zealand.
Per 1News, shared by a fan account (@NoSpandex) on Instagram, production on Power Rangers is leaving New Zealand after twenty years of working in the country. Reportedly, the production has brought more than $340 million dollars into the local economy over that time, with many in the area calling the move a "great loss."
So far, Hasbro has not confirmed any particular reason for the move, though in a statement the company noted that it has had "the pleasure of working with such incredible and talented teams in New Zealand and plan to keep close for any future projects that may be a fit for Power Rangers or across any other of our future entertainment productions."
Power Rangers Turns 30
2023 marks the Power Rangers franchise's 30-year milestone anniversary, as well as the 30th season of its ongoing main series, Power Rangers Cosmic Fury. The upcoming series acts as the third season of Power Rangers Dino Fury. It also stands as the first time a particular lineup has been given a third season since the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, which debuted in 1993. Cosmic Fury is slated to carve out another landmark first for itself, with Hunter Deno's Amelia Jones stepping out of her Pink Ranger duds and into the role of the franchise's first full-time female Red Ranger.
Along with Cosmic Fury's impending premiere, 2023 saw members of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers cast reunite with several of their small-screen successors for Netflix's Power Rangers: Once & Always. The special brought back the likes of David Yost's Billy Cranston and Walter Emanual Jones' Zack Taylor to help lead the battle against a recently returned Rita Repulsa in an all-new mechanized form. Following the special's release, Yost expressed his optimism for more trips back into the Morphin Grid in the future. "Hopefully because of the hype, it goes well and we'll continue and maybe do more," he said.
In September 2022, it was reported that more updates to the ever-expanding Power Rangers franchise had leaked, specifically pertaining to Netflix's upcoming reboot of the franchise helmed by Jenny Klein and End of the F***ing World creator/director Jonathan Entwistle. Per the leak, Netflix's plans include an upcoming feature film whose cast will subsequently transition to a series as an all-new team of Rangers. Both are said to be more adult in their overall tone, something which has been similarly achieved by BOOM! Studios' ongoing Power Rangers comic book universe.
Power Rangers Cosmic Fury is set to premiere sometime in 2023 on Netflix.
Source: 1News, via Instagram