It looks like the Power Rangers are morphing back into Disney’s hands—at least for now. According to an exclusive report from TheWrap, Disney+ and 20th Century Television are in talks to develop a brand-new live-action Power Rangers series, with Percy Jackson and the Olympians showrunners Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz attached as writers, producers, and showrunners.
Hasbro, who currently owns the Power Rangers IP, will also be producing the series. Early reports suggest this will be a full reinvention of the franchise aimed at bringing in a new generation of viewers while still appealing to longtime fans of the colorful superhero squad.
Robo Rita Repulsa in Power Rangers Once & Always on Netflix – YouTube, Netflix
The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers debuted in 1993, borrowing heavily from the Japanese series Super Sentai (even incorporating original footage). Over the decades, the franchise has seen numerous iterations with varying levels of success. Most recently, Netflix produced the first ever entirely U.S.-based Power Rangers series called Power Rangers Cosmic Fury.
Of course, this is not Disney’s first rodeo with the Rangers. Back in 2001, Disney acquired Power Rangers as part of its $5.3 billion purchase of Fox Family Worldwide, which included Saban Entertainment. Under Disney’s control, the franchise produced multiple seasons between 2003 and 2009, including:
- Power Rangers Ninja Storm
- Power Rangers Dino Thunder
- Power Rangers S.P.D.
- Power Rangers Mystic Force
- Power Rangers Operation Overdrive
- Power Rangers Jungle Fury
- Power Rangers RPM
However, Disney infamously struggled to maintain the brand’s popularity, leading to what many fans considered mismanagement of the IP. Eventually, Disney sold Power Rangers back to Haim Saban in 2010 for a mere $43 million—a fraction of what they originally paid.
Fast-forward to 2018, when Hasbro acquired the franchise from Saban for $522 million (Haim Saban is a genius…), aiming to unlock its full multimedia potential. This new live-action series is part of Hasbro Entertainment’s broader strategy to leverage its most recognizable brands across film, TV, and streaming, alongside projects like the Magic: The Gathering live-action universe, Forgotten Realms on Netflix, and upcoming adaptations of Clue and Dungeons & Dragons.
Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson in PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS – “Episode 102” (Disney/David Bukach)
Notably absent from current reports is whether this Disney+ project will affect or replace the rumored Power Rangers film being developed by Paramount and Skydance. Back in late December 2024, credible industry sources hinted that Paramount was not only developing a new movie but potentially negotiating to purchase the Power Rangers property outright from Hasbro. So far, there’s been no clarification on whether this live-action series would coexist alongside the film or signal a shift in plans.
It also remains unclear if Disney is simply distributing the series through Disney+ or if they’ve reacquired any ownership stake in the franchise—a possibility that would mark a surprising twist given Disney’s prior history with the brand.
Meanwhile, Steinberg and Shotz bring considerable experience to the table. Beyond the success of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which just wrapped its second season and secured a renewal for a third, the duo’s resume includes FX’s critically acclaimed The Old Man. Both series were produced under their Quaker Moving Pictures banner, housed at Disney’s 20th Television since 2019.
The Power Rangers team in the rebooted Lionsgate Film Saban’s Power Rangers – YouTube, Lionsgate Movies
Between Disney’s checkered past with the Rangers and Hasbro’s aggressive multimedia strategy, the development of this series raises plenty of questions about the franchise’s future—and who will ultimately wield the Power Morpher this time around.
How do you feel about Disney getting its hands on the Power Rangers again? Sound off in the comments below and let us know!
Let’s see if Disney stays true to Power Rangers or ruins it with stupid Ideology.
I don’t think this is even going to happen. Right now Iger and the Board seem to be in total panics as they scramble to make up for the losses of Snow Brown and were already so before Thursday’s shareholder meeting.