POWER RANGERS Director Talks about New Film and Creating Its Own Universe
The first trailer dropped last weekend for Lionsgate's Power Rangers movie, and I have to admit, I was a little underwhelmed. I think the movie has potential, and it was interesting to see the tone that director Dean Israelite went with. It's definitely a darker version of the franchise with a ragtag group of Breakfast Club-type characters that gain superpowers. There's no doubt that we'll get a better look at the film in the next trailer.
During an interview with THR, the director talked about the film and said that it's currently in the process of editing and visual effects. When talking about what he wanted to do with the franchise when making the film he explained:
"I think the guiding light for me was, how do I take the spirit of what was, for me, a fun and heartfelt show and make the characters come to life in a way that gives nuance and complexity to them, and gives a lot of emotion to them. That was one guiding principle for remaking the show. The other was to make it grounded and real, and make it feel real and relatable even though the adventure was epic. I thought if I could do that, and maintain the fun of the show, I could bring it to life in a whole new way."
He also discussed what he was looking to bring to the film to make it feel unique, saying:
"I think I grew up on those characters and watched them grow up, too. There wasn't always much depth and complexity to the show, but the themes of it are complex. I thought if I could bring those themes and embellish them and make them nuanced and multi-dimensional, it could echo the start of the show. All five of our Rangers are on their pretty personal journeys, and I think that's what makes this franchise unique unto itself. It'll always be, at its heart, about the emotions and the people in the center of it all."
When asked about making this movie in an era of superhero and comic book film from Marvel and DC, the director said he wanted to take Power Rangers and create its own universe:
"I always thought this brand had its own deep and rich history and I wanted to create its own universe. I really wanted to try hard to make everything photographed in a very real, contemporary style — even in the ways we executed the design, I wanted you to be able to look at the machines and the ship and the suits, as if it's its own universe. I want our one to be seen as its own thing.
"In terms of the other superhero movies in recent years, you look at the degree of artistry in those, and in terms of technical achievements, they definitely raised the bar. But I try not to copy any of those movies, and ensure that we can be our own thing."
It's cool to know that he's trying to do something different. When talking about working with these characters in the film, specifically the villain Rita, he says:
"I think it's a case of taking the characters to places that they had never been before, but had maybe needed to go. With Rita, she still has the madness and humor that made her work so well in the series, but there's something more. Elizabeth Banks is perfect in the role, because she can balance the humor and the drama the character needs in a way that almost no one else could."
As for how he feels about what's he's done with the Power Rangers movie so far, he said:
"What I'm proud of, and what's exciting to me, is that it's a real character driven movie. There's real emotion in this film, and I think people will be surprised by it. I don't think this movie is just one thing — I think it doesn't have to be grim, I think it should be fun, and it should be adventurous. I think this movie hits those different notes well, and this property is so ripe to mix all those things together."
I wish they would have put some of that fun and adventurous stuff he's talking about in the first trailer! I guess we'll see it eventually. Power Rangers will be released March 24, 2017.