Elizabeth Banks has been cast to play the villain in “Power Rangers,” TheWrap has learned.
She will star as the heroes’ classic nemesis, alien witch Rita Repulsa.
“Project Almanac” filmmaker Dean Israelite will direct the “Power Rangers” movie from a script by Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama.
RJ Cyler, Becky G, Ludy Lin, Naomi Scott and Dacre Montgomery are playing the Power Rangers.
The original incarnation of the popular series, called “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” debuted in 1993 and quickly became a national phenomenon. It followed a group of high school kids who gain superpowers, making them masters of martial arts and able to pilot massive interconnecting robots, a la “Voltron.”
Marty Bowen is a producer on the new film along with Wyck Godfrey. Allison Shearmur is serving as executive producer. With 20-plus years worth of stories to tap into, Lionsgate will be pushing for a “Power Rangers” franchise.
The 2017 film will mark the third theatrical release for the franchise. “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie” capitalized on the property’s initial success. It featured the original series’ cast and grossed more than $66.4 million globally in 1995. It was followed by “Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie,” which served as a launchpad for the “Power Rangers Turbo” television series.
Banks most recently starred in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2,” “Magic Mike XXL” and “Pitch Perfect 2,” which she also directed. She is currently working on “Pitch Perfect 3” and “The Most Hated Woman in America.”
She is repped by UTA and Untitled Entertainment.