Entertainment Weekly (via SFFGazette.com) has confirmed that the original Blue Power Ranger, Billy, will be part of the show's 30th season on Netflix, Power Rangers Cosmic Fury.
David Yost is set to reprise the role after recently donning the spandex during the show's 30th-anniversary celebration, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always. The actor will be a series regular, the first time he's been this closely linked to the franchise since leaving the series during its fourth season, 1996's Power Rangers Zeo.
"We felt it would be a meaningful landmark for fans to have David return to the show in a significant role, playing a mentor," Cosmic Fury executive producer Simon Bennett tells the site. "And on a personal level, it was a thrill to be working with the O.G. Blue Ranger."
"David's calm and positive spirit kept us all grounded and reminded us of the Ranger legacy we were striving to do justice to."
It appears Billy's return has been in the works since before Once & Always became a reality, with his arc in Cosmic Fury largely unrelated to what we saw there. However, Bennett has assured fans there will be at least a few Easter Eggs to be on the lookout for which connect both stories.
This won't be the only way Power Rangers Cosmic Fury pays homage to the original series, though, as Lord Zedd is back and hungry for revenge.
"Lord Zedd has escaped, and this time his rampage extends to the farthest reaches of space!" reads the official synopsis. "The Rangers need to find new Zords and new powers to face Zedd's latest threat, and they won't do so alone. Joined by some familiar faces, they will discover the power of the Cosmic Orbs and become the Cosmic Fury Rangers, armed with new uniforms, new weapons, and an entire new fleet of Zords!"
"Ever the tech genius and master of logic, Billy's help is crucial to the Rangers in their battle against Lord Zedd. Billy's expertise shines as the team rallies to fend off both a galactic invasion and the potential undoing of all the good that came from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers team."
Power Rangers Cosmic Fury also stars Hunter Deno, Russell Curry, Kai Moya, Tessa Rao, Chance Perez, Jordon Fite, and Jacqueline Joe as Fern. It will hit Netflix on September 29, and you can take a closer look at the opening credits, and some photos, in the Tweets below.