Last year, Entertainment One unexpectedly acquired Hasbro in a $4 billion deal that, for the most part, generated nowhere near as much media attention as Disney buying Marvel and Lucasfilm for the same amount. Regardless, the studio is now moving forward with a greater number of movie and television projects based on the toy maker's library, with Power Rangers a main priority.
Former HBO President of Programming Michael Lombardo is now serving as EOne's President of Global Television, and a deal has been struck with Netflix for an entire slate of projects with these characters.
Jonathan Entwistle (The End of the F***ing World) is overseeing this venture - which was confirmed several months ago - and Lombardo has now shared an update with Deadline. "Since we set up Power Rangers with Jonathan, we pitched really a whole-world approach," he explains.
"It’s not just one show, it is shows followed by films, some kids’ programming. We have found a great writing partner for him, they are off. Knock on wood, Netflix is excited, we’re excited, we hope to have some news soon." That's an ambitious approach, but one the Power Rangers franchise could greatly benefit from following that disappointing big screen reboot a few years ago.
This would give Netflix another popular IP to attract subscribers with, and there's a tonne of potential for the Power Rangers to inhabit a shared Marvel Cinematic Universe-style world. We'll see how it develops (and whether there's enough interest to justify an entire slate), but fingers crossed.
Are you excited for the return of Power Rangers?