CASTLEVANIA Showrunner Adi Shankar Is Working On An R-Rated POWER RANGERS Animated Series

CASTLEVANIA Showrunner Adi Shankar Is Working On An R-Rated POWER RANGERS Animated Series

Remember that R-Rated Power Rangers fan film? It may be one step closer to reality now, as Castlevania showrunner Adi Shankar has said he is working on an animated retelling of the show...

By MattBellissimo - Feb 10, 2017 03:02 AM EST
Filed Under: Power Rangers
Source: Polygon
Two years ago, director Joseph Khan and producer Adi Shankar presented POWER/RANGERS, a short fan film based on Saban's colorful heroes of the same name. The film, which starred Katee Sackhoff and James Van Der Beek, was an R-rated take on the kid-friendly Power Rangers mythos, with plenty of violent action and mature themes. Saban wasn't exactly thrilled with the film, as they were working on their own reboot that is now due for release in a few months.

Shankar initially said the film was meant as a standalone, mature analysis of the Power Rangers concept, but it seems that he now has something a little more ambitious in mind. In an interview with Polygon, Shankar confirmed that he is working on an R-rated Power Rangers animated series that would adapt the first three seasons of the original TV show. “It’s a complete retelling of the first three seasons,” Shankar said. “And it’s going to be really f*cking dark. Darker than any other Power Rangers series.”

Shankar confirmed that he is currently writing the scripts for the first season and wants to have the series ready on a network within 18 months. Shankar said he had spoken to a few networks, but he was most interested in bringing the show to Netflix, where he is currently serving as showrunner for Castlevania. Shankar explained that he believes Netflix has the best format for television in the modern age. "If you look at what shows are like today, they’re long movies,” Shankar said. “It’s a format paradigm and I want to explore creating these types of new shows with Power Rangers. We’re going to focus on the beats of what made each show great and turn that into one, entirely new Power Rangers series."

Of course, there would still be other hurdles to get around, and Saban may not be so willing to let their property get steered away from the family-friendly image it has maintained for over 20 years. Do you want to see this series get made? Let us know in the comments below!


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SimplyAz
SimplyAz - 2/10/2017, 3:34 AM
I'd watch it.
SimplyAz
SimplyAz - 2/10/2017, 4:13 AM
Let's not forget he was also involved in Punisher: Dirty Laundry as well, which was at the time one of the better Punisher interpretations.

DjTheMarvelKid
DjTheMarvelKid - 2/10/2017, 4:59 AM
@SimplyAz - same
2013venjix
2013venjix - 2/10/2017, 5:32 AM
@SimplyAz - I'd watch it too!
permaturenut
permaturenut - 2/10/2017, 8:56 AM
@SimplyAz - yeessssss...god damn it....YYYEYSSSSSSSSSSS!!! [frick] YES! 10000 YES YESSES YES YES YES PLEASE YES
ODanil
ODanil - 2/10/2017, 3:44 AM
and the movie people have no problem with this?
MattBellissimo
MattBellissimo - 2/10/2017, 3:44 AM
@ODanil - That's the question. Saban is known to be fiercely protective of the franchise...so we'll have to see what happens.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 2/10/2017, 3:49 AM
@ODanil -

I'm fairly sure that Adi Shankar has effectively burned any chances of getting the rights. The Power/Rangers fan film was taken down for copyright reasons multiple times by Saban, and honestly i understand why as it presents a universe of implied rape, sex, violence, gore and over aspects that are not really what someone selling toys to kids would want associated with.
MattBellissimo
MattBellissimo - 2/10/2017, 3:52 AM
@Scarilian - Yes, but that was silly to begin with. As in, it's a fan film and it's not making money...it's no different than any other work in that respect. Saban just did it because of the image it presented; which I understand, given the way they want the brand portrayed. But on the flip side, trying to get it taken down was a silly move.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 2/10/2017, 3:56 AM
@MattBellissimo -
Fan films are still subject to copyright law, regardless of profit and the character's were technically infringing on the copyright held by Saban. The title used the Power Rangers trademark, the designs of the suits and the characters were taken, etc...


Saban may have done it because of the image it presented of the characters, but they were well within the rights to do so and honestly can do so whenever they want.
MattBellissimo
MattBellissimo - 2/10/2017, 3:58 AM
@Scarilian - I don't disagree that they were within their rights to do it.
DjTheMarvelKid
DjTheMarvelKid - 2/10/2017, 5:01 AM
@Scarilian - we need to get that damn video back up everywhere just to freak out little power Rangers kids it would be so funny
Scarilian
Scarilian - 2/10/2017, 3:45 AM
"And it’s going to be really f*cking dark. Darker than any other Power Rangers series."

I dont want to see a R-rated Power Rangers animated series, especially not one done by Adi Shankar. His previous film history and the Power Rangers fan-film demonstrated someone who wanted to just show 'edgy' things. He seems to bathe in it - like the sort of person you would hire to do a solo Cletus Kasady/Carnage film.
Jecharius
Jecharius - 2/10/2017, 5:41 AM
@Scarilian - Right. for me it was cool to watch once simply because it was a concept that I hadn't seen before, not because it was good. When things are dark and edgy simply for the sake of being dark and edgy, most of the times the substance is completely lacking. I personally would love to see an R-rated Power Rangers movie or show, but the only way I could see it working is if it was done as an anime.
mitchellhenrysp
mitchellhenrysp - 2/10/2017, 3:47 AM
The fan film was already terrible so a cartoon version is going to be worse
heisei24
heisei24 - 2/10/2017, 3:48 AM

Sure, why not, let's see him doing one without it ended up pretentious and overly edgy.
PrimitiveMan
PrimitiveMan - 2/10/2017, 6:20 PM
@heisei24 - "pretentious and overly edgy"

Isn't how these types of projects always turn out though?
MrMartyMarvel
MrMartyMarvel - 2/10/2017, 3:49 AM
I can totally get behind this. There's nothing like the stupidest and campiest kids schlock ever going to rape and bloody, murder levels of dark.

Can we get Care Bears Meet Sin City next?
Mrsinister
Mrsinister - 2/10/2017, 8:12 AM
@MrMartyMarvel - if it's man on man rape then ya
TheDayman
TheDayman - 2/10/2017, 3:54 AM
...Why? What's the audience for this?
PrimitiveMan
PrimitiveMan - 2/10/2017, 4:03 AM
@Valdez - People who want their superheroes to be dark and gritty?

I don't know, I thought/hoped we were past that mindset, but obviously I might be wrong =/
tb86
tb86 - 2/10/2017, 3:56 AM
I can't say I'm totally on board with this. The idea of a Power Rangers animated series is a cool idea but to be R rated. I don't really think so. I hated that fan film. Sure it would be cool to see a different side of Power Rangers. Maybe something on the line of say Young Justice or The Legend of Korra but I don't really want what that fan film had. If it does have a dark edge to it I guess it's ok but not what these guys have in mind.
PrimitiveMan
PrimitiveMan - 2/10/2017, 4:06 AM
@tb86 - You know what? Funnily enough, these are my exact feelings that I didn't think long enough to convey.

I personally would be okay with a cartoon/anime inspired Power Rangers/Super Sentai show just as long as it didn't take itself down a "dark and gritty" path (which was completely unnecessary). Also, I wouldn't mind those that you mentioned earlier either, maybe even a vibe of the original Teen Titans show would be cool too =)

Also yeah, I hated this fan film too.
MattBellissimo
MattBellissimo - 2/10/2017, 3:59 AM
I didn't realize so many people disliked the fan film!

I thought it was interesting....gratuitous....but interesting.
Mecha
Mecha - 2/10/2017, 4:00 AM
Wait, how does he have the rights to do this?
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