Adults of a certain age will know the name of Jason David Frank, the man who played Tommy Oliver aka Green Ranger in the original Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. Since the show ended, Frank has been a huge supporter of the franchise and is currently trying to get a role in the upcoming Lionsgate reboot.
Yesterday saw the launch of Adi Shankar’s Power/Rangers, a gritty R-rated fan film which starred Katee Sackoff and James Van Der Beek [watch it here]. Fans loved it, but what did Jason David Frank think?
“I was approached about a year, year and a half ago by the guy who made it to be in the film, ” he posted to his Facebook page. “There were a lot of fan films going on at the time and me and Aaron, Bat in the Sun were working on the Green Ranger project and future stuff like Green Ranger Beat Down and things like that. I heard the storyline and… God… I know there are a lot of fans out there who love it, but I’m a PG-13 guy. The cuss words, the drugs and all the other stuff… it doesn’t fly with me.”
“Let me explain,” he continues. “Everyone loves Power Rangers, but they’re still connected with adults and kids. The Super Mega Force and Power Rangers: Dino Charge are still on Nickelodeon. So you can’t take a brand like this and reboot it to be so dark and gritty. You can’t separate it. The adults love it because they’re like, ‘this is our show from when we were kids’, but you’ve got to fall back to the kids that want to watch Power Rangers. You know, our inner geek inside is going, ‘yes, this is what we wanted, we’re all grown up now’ but at the same time we’ve got to be responsible and say this is a kid’s brand. You know I’m 41, so you’re probably thinking I’m an old person, but I’m talking the truth.”
“Do I like the movie… here’s the thing,” he adds. “I want to be in the real Power Rangers movie. So Lionsgate let’s get this rolling, I want to be in the real movie. I’ve saved my character for so long. And when I bring my character out in movies and things like that, I want it to be legit. I want it to be a Saban blessed and approved project. As for the Lionsgate movies, we’ll see what happens. But you’ve got to have Tommy in the movie, come on. So, I did know about the movie, I was offered a role, I don’t feel bad about taking it. I saw [Katee] Sackoff who plays Kimberly in the movie two weekends ago. And she didn’t say anything!
So, not the biggest fan of the project. But a good way to continue his plug for a role in the new movie. What did you make of the fan movie?
Ashley says
He’s right. While I love the short video I saw on youtube, it is still very much a kids show. To do a movie, they’d have to do something that both kids and adults could see and enjoy. But that balance was struck well (I thought) with Nolan’s Batman Trilogy and Bay’s Transformers (talking about the first, never saw the rest). I do think it would be possible (and love the idea) of having the first, original Rangers coming back as adults- whether it’s just the characters or the original actors themselves (the ones still living) playing those characters again. If they did a movie like that, I’d absolutely go see it.
boywithbluehanger says
You get it. The fan video was an interesting “elseworlds” take on the Power Rangers but it wasn’t really Power Rangers. I think the best way to go abut it is to somehow create a Power Rangers film that is a continuation of the MMPR surrounding the fictional Angel Grove. They definitely should introduce new characters who have the blessing from the original characters. It should be a passing of the torch franchise.
They can have “movie versions” of the original power suits and cameos by the characters who played original rangers. However the exception I’d make is Tommy. I was trained to hate Tommy when I was a kid but I can’t deny that he’s waved the Power Ranger flag harder and stronger than just about any actor from any TV series in the history of ever. His passion for being associated with the show far outweighs my hatred of him stealing my wife Kimberly from me and replacing Jason as the leader. If they go with the idea of 5 new characters as the rangers and have Tommy join in on the fun, I’ll step aside and let him summon that badass Dragonzord.
Plus I sorta miss hearing him whoop ass shouting something that sounded like, “Saint Hooyah!!!!”
teamtommy says
the best part of the entire post was reading and hearing jason david frank saying it in my head
Brandon Mcgee says
Spongebob is a kids show but that didn’t stop them from cursing in the new movie. This guy needs to realize that what made the Power rangers great were us as kids and now we are adults that are looking for adult themes of our favorite shows both past and present. Do you think Shows like Regular Show, Spongebob, and many others would be around if they didn’t put adult themes in there that adults would get and kids didn’t? I saw the Power Ranger Dino Charge show and it is terrible. I still watch it but my kid who is 7 years old stopped watching Power Rangers after Samurai. The shows that followed failed to catch his attention or my other kids. Power Rangers franchise is and has been on the cusp of failing in america and the only ones holding it up are the Adults. No one is going to pay to see that wacky 90s kids version of the new Rangers movie. It’s bad when all the shelves are stocked with Ranger toys while everything else is flying off the shelves. Another thing is Spiderman toys are a billion dollar empire and some how that kids character is being gritty to an extent and pulling in the cash. I would pay to see the whole story the Power Rangers short creator tells and will watch the offical Ranger movie when it lands on TV.
Justin Sims says
A few swear words here and there isn’t what put it over the top. The whole atmosphere was cut off. Plus, Power Rangers is supposed to be a little campy.
His point was that you could put adult themes in it without it being too forced and over the top. Look at the Marvel movies for example. Particularly Spider-Man.
I’m an adult that grew up with PR, but I don’t want to see F-bombs and drugs just because it’s “dark and gritty”. You can write a more serious story without those elements. Or if you have to include them, not make it so forced and over the top.
“Where the fuck is Tommy!” sounds like a drunken stupor. lmao Was it supposed to be funny?
Tom-Ray says
Over the top Reboot cliches, over the top grittiness, over the top “twist” ending, over the top action. It’s a perfect mockery of what Hollywood considers a “good” reboot. This way made purely for fun. The fact that some people can’t seem to grasp that is amazing.
Skippy says
Thank you for typing that, I couldn’t find the right words to describe why I disliked this fan-film but what you said is it.
jrusse18 says
The only thing I have to say is “Spongebob” is a cuss word so you can’t really complain about cussing in the movie.
Justin Sims says
JDF was correct. The trailer was trying WAAAAAY too hard to be “dark”. all of the forced swearing and drugs just seemed out of place and idiotic. Only a frat boy would like it. And Rita killing off the original 5 seems too cunning for her and plan stupid for the plot.
Joolz says
I agree with you Justin Sims. I saw this film and did not like it at all. I don’t like dark and violent movies and this movie really tried to hard to be dark to me. I did not enjoy it one bit. I like the brightness and silliness that Power Rangers has.
bukadan says
the drugs sex and swears arent even that dark or gritty, unless youre extremely goody two-shoes or stuck in an old fashioned mindset, those elements were negligible. the violence is probably not going to be far off from what the real lionsgate movie will present, but definitely not as brutal. so unless youre saying its too brutally violent, then i do not agree with what youre saying
Joolz says
Okay. Damn. Calm down! I was just stating my opinion. I clearly said ‘to me’. I did not like it. If you like it then good for you. Not my thing. You can call me a goody-two-shoes or whatever you’d like if it makes you feel better. But I don’t like it. I thought it was too violent. Maybe not for you. But hey that’s your opinion. And I respect it as I’d like for you to do the same for me.
Jace Naughton says
LMAO…could you possibly be any more of a drama queen, Joolz? Youre acting like bukadan just flipped out on you when he just posted a very calm and relevant point that stuff like drugs and sex isnt really as dark as some are making it out to be….in general.
However, for a Power Rangers film, yes, it was too dark.
And if you enjoy the brightness and silliness of the Power Rangers, go watch the original show. That ish isnt going to fly in a feature film. Im not saying they should do anything like the short film, but they definitely need to steer clear of the overly campy stuff they do on the TV show.
Mr.Grin says
As a fan fic this is very well done, explores a more realistic and deadly type of ranger and the visuals are great considering. That said it is a complete and total breakaway and I can get behind his distaste for it. The series is based on being that balance of cheesy and action, its humor and entertainment. The designers of the show purposely put those both together to create a memorable ( and marketable) experience. While this is great to watch, in the end, it is just a “what if” scenario with visuals to back it up. I dont think I could stomach Power Rangers being turned into a drama series.
paul says
i don’t liked it not as same because you remember power rangers galaxy it last show one voice say to him it red ranger. Voice say to red, say destroy me i will be sacrifice i had a faith. red did swing of sword then explosion as flash all away through space to earth, during fight ranger vs evil came though the flash they transform evil people into good people. you saw t.v. it one first show lady with horn on her head you saw during the battle on power ranger galaxy you knew it. now new movie no way that is wrong way i saw on you tube that is no way
about first show on mighty morph power ranger first day that lady with horn her head you saw now in ranger galaxy her is finish was flash though she was evil into good lady. now new movie i don’t like new movie.
Dan says
What the fuck?
daniel dresen says
Speak Engrish!
Wicasawakan says
Stoners with very few brain cells + computers don’t mix
M Lux says
Maybe it’s time to let go. He said it himself, this was something from our childhood. You’re 41 sir, time to pass the role onto another actor.
Garlador says
Some people play the same role for children’s shows for decades. Scrooge McDuck’s voice actor is 95 and still going.
M Lux says
Voice actors vs. Physical actors… Two different things,
move along Garlador.
Tristan Enseleit says
Exactly. Peter Cullen voicing Optimus Prime for the entirety of his life (including into the movies) is perfectly fine, but Robert Downey Jr. is understanding his age and what would have to become of Iron Man/Tony Stark in the MCU movies later down the road. Right?
Garlador says
Sean Connery played Bond well into his 60s. Hugh Jackman has played Wolverine since the Clinton administration.
I mean, Jason David Frank is only 41, is in fantastic shape, and is still fighting people in real life as an MMA fighter.
Brian says
Connery was 40 the last time he played Bond in an official Bond movie, and 52 when he did the non canonical Never Say Never Again. Hardly “Well into his 60s”.
M Lux says
He may be 40+ and in shape to do MMA but that doesn’t mean he is what they want to reboot a film franchise. His ship has sailed. He needs to come to terms with it.
Brian says
There is only one Tommy!
KamiShadow says
I think you could easily take the mature theme out of it and it’d still be good. The idea of the Rangers dying (aka disappearing) is great. The idea of the villain hiding as a character is great. The idea of Tommy being rogue and traveling down a path that could go both ways is good.
A good writer could take out the drugs, porn stars, and cussing and still come out strong with it. I think he’s right, kids still watch it, but first generation fans are now adults and I think it’d be a good idea to start finding that middle road.
Rip Van WInkle says
It was only for one ranger. I think it’s realistic to say that at least one would be the badboy of the group. The others seemed to lead otherwise normal lives before being killed.
KamiShadow says
They all did something rather messed up. The black Ranger was sleeping with two enemies (credits) plus drugs and the cussing. Green one was bad. I think it was the Blue ranger killed himself and was dealing cocaine? Plus they made it seem like the Pink ranger(Kimberly) was sleeping with all the other rangers.
Tristan Enseleit says
Black Ranger was an adrenaline-junkie that switched sides for the rush and turned to drug abuse and philandering women (its amusing those 2 women in his bed were credited as PR named villains in the credits, haha; guess they served the purpose of keeping tabs on him for Rita while she was undercover and then came around to murder him). Blue Ranger evidently became an Anton Vanko-ish weapons dealer that sold to both sides (or to the enemy) and was coerced into shooting himself by Rita. Green went rogue/ghost to hide from being blamed for Pink Ranger’s mysterious death at the end of that intergalactic war. Red II (since Rita while disguised as Kimberly/Pink married Red I, Jason) went rogue and switched sides. Yellow died by some other unknown means while the other 4 attended her funeral.
I liked that this fan film actually made a villain an actual menace with whom to be reckoned. I recall all the PR villains always being daft, incompetent baffoons that didn’t really accomplish ANYTHING. It became predictable that they’d lose or fail without even having to watch the show/movie.
Garlador says
It was a good fan film, while being a bad Power Rangers film.
I liked it, but I would never wish for Power Rangers to become an R-rated gritty film.
The series defined my childhood, but I’m happy keeping it there, along with Ninja Turtles, Thundercats, Hey Arnold!, and Ducktales.
Though I’m curious what a super gritty, violent, foul-mouthed, drug-fueled, sex-filled Ducktales project might be like.
Mr.Grin says
Disney is bringing back Ducktales in 2017, I believe.
SeanF says
The problem is they went from the corny, PG, kid-friendly Power Rangers to an over-the-top blood and guts, f-bombs, meth cooking, hookers banging in the background Power Rangers. I get that you want to make a more adult oriented and even more real world version of the Power Rangers but there has to be some sort of middle ground. It’s like going from Who Framed Roger Rabbit to Sin City. You can make it gritty and real without going over-the-top.
Rip Van WInkle says
There was only one Ranger who had drugs/hookers and that’s all you took from it? It was 14 minutes long. The hookers/drugs were maybe a collective 10 seconds. Come on.
JuggyBohab . says
but he’s right…if you took away the two pornstars, the language, and massive bloodshed you still could have told the SAME story. nothing would have changed. something people don’t seem to understand is that not everything needs a grim gritty dark reboot. i dug the new noir cyberpunk setting. i like where they went with the machine empire but the bloody deaths, drugs, language, and random nudity was too much. this could have easily been pg13 and told the same story. honestly if this was a 90s comic book it would have that cheesy “this ain’t your daddy’s power rangers!” tag line.
it was done well but all that other stuff was unnecessary.
brandon Johnson says
I tried to tell my friend about this and he told me to grow up. Wtf i am only 28
Joolz says
What’s your friend’s problem? Their is nothing wrong, in my opinion, with watching this or Power Rangers at 28.
Devon H says
I agree with Jason David Frank. Even if it is for a new generation and for us who grew up with it, to make it dark and gritty is not really warranted in this case. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers….The name in itself, screams “camp” and thus shouldn’t be taken too seriously on TV or on the silver screen. You can still have a campy show for kids and still appeal to grown up audiences without making it too dark.
Pixar/Disney do this with great success. Lionsgate should follow there example in this case.
Tomas says
Didn’t JDF participate in a fan video where gets speared through the helmet by Scorpion and blood came out in one scenario and he impales Scorpion with the Saba sword in the head in another? ….Hyprocrite…..
da master says
yes but that was just one very quick scene (yes there are two but technically only one was used). its sort of like how movies with a pg-13 rating are allowed to use the f-word. as long as you only use it once, youre good. if you dont believe me, watch x men first class or x men days of future past.
Rip Van WInkle says
Pssht…the fan movie was fantastic. If he didn’t like it, it’s only because he’s got a hardon for the kids version, which is fine…but the whole point of the fan short was to be for adults.
You know, to give them something to match their age now, because they were kids when PR was first on TV.
Jason A. Martin says
He’s just towing the line. He likely has a deal with Saban to let him tour cons as the Green/White Rangers. So of course he’s going to side with Saban.
Jenkins1155 . says
I liked it. All the kids that made Power Rangers the #1 show Saturday mornings in the early 90’s are adults now, a more mature themed Power Rangers geared towards adults would appeal to them at this time. I think it would be smart if Saban gets on board with this idea and reboots the franchise and make a series of dark movies that appeal to adults.
Tristan Enseleit says
Exactly. Just like Batman/Superman or any other hero have their PG stories, they also have darker stories too, right? Power Rangers could easily have an alternate-universe or sub-team that is meant for darker, grittier, edgier stories that border on adult themes. Right?
Jacob Spencer says
My view is Power Rangers should have a feel similar to The Avengers, serious, but fun, instead of being dark and gritty. I mean, that sounds like a good balance, right?
Prometheus says
I thought the fan film was interesting and well produced for a fan film … but I was confused at the tone. I understand the desire to mature the concept as the original audience has matured, but like Jason says in the article, the audience currently watching the show on TV is young. One thing that irked me about the fan film was the lack of warnings about the drugs, language and nudity. If my son had been watching that with me he would have seen images that would have been inappropriate for him. If they want to make a PG-13 version for the theater, I absolutely understand that and think they could do it very well. I think the R-rated version is a bit too far that direction. At heart, this is still a show for young audiences.
While I love Sackhoff and thought the fan film was good, I think it would have been better as a Gatchaman (Battle of the Planets) short rather than Power Rangers.
Calvin Carter Jr says
It was okay. It just seemed gritty for gritty’s sake to me though. Not bad if you take it as an alternative universe type of story, but it just did not have a Power Rangers’ feel to it. I do like the idea of a series growing up with its audience in sense, but there does still need to be a balance of what made that series so attractive to us children. And that’s what the fan film was missing to me.
Tristan Enseleit says
What’s sooooo darn wrong with Power Rangers being a tad edgier, darker and grittier? Not all of Batman’s stuff is targeted JUST for kiddies. He and his rogues gallery of villains can and have made darker, edgier, grittier stories, right? That’s part of why I was on the age-cutoff for trying to like the kid’s show: I was still an old enough kid to recognize how campy, cheesy and forced some it was. The episodes and movie plots were so 1-dimensional and predictable that I wouldn’t have had to even see them to know what was going to happen. This fan film, however, actually had some very exciting and surprising twists and turns, especially with the end’s big reveal. The show’s villains were always such daft baffoons that when this fan film turned 1 into quite the capable mastermind, it proves that THAT’S where a superhero movie succeeds or fail: with how interesting you make the villain.
I’ll admit, some of the elements of this darker and grittier fan film were a tad extreme for me as well, but Power Rangers and Saban should acknowledge that their original fanbase are grown adults now and could handle some grit. The blood and gore definitely made me wince (but I’m also the same person that winced when Black Widow hit someone in the face with a wrench in “Winter Soldier). The cursing mostly seemed to fit even if some of it was over the top or unnecessary. I didn’t even make a 2nd thought about the drug usage, since it was part of that character’s dark turn for the worst. If the 2016 film kept this kind of grit minus the bloody gore and not quite extreme cursing (I believe a PG-13 film is allowed only 1 F-bomb before it would have to go to R), it could still do well while marketing itself to both teens AND adults.
You also have to acknowledge that this fan film is meant to be satire too. Completely poking fun or a creative satirical jab at the source material. Because of all the various spin-offs the Power Rangers franchise has produced over these 2 decades, ALL of it is always kept PG, clean, curse-word free and campy to target children. This fan film gave us the same Power Rangers franchise but induced a little creative grit and edge to it to see how it would look in a film meant for the fans that grew up with the franchise. Even if I only knew small bits of the original team (and the 1st movie), I definitely approve of this edgier direction for keeping the adult fanbase interested in the franchise. Saban and Lionsgate would too, since the latter seems to buy film rights to all the young adult books (Divergent, Hunger Games, etc.).
Justin Sims says
You can be “a tad edgier, darker, and grittier” without hookers, meth, head shots, and F-bombs.
Romelle Bradford says
About time the Black Ranger got done shine. Not even racially driven, but I really thought he was underrated. Zack was always the #2 behind Jason but when Tommy came, all those sparring sessions and leadership went in favor of Tommy instead of Zack. He had great moves! With that said tho, it almost felt like they were pushing politics in the short, taking cues from were the MCU is right now. Making those with powers having to work for the government. I admit I did enjoy the short but they tried to hard. Sometimes the harder route is pulling back. Like last night I was watching the show Martin and was reminded how great it is because of the chemistry and the deliverance of the lines and jokes. Would the show be as funny if it were rated R and dropping F bombs left and right? No. I feel it’s easier to make something that has no restrictions compared to something that does. Again, I did enjoy it, but I would find a PG-13 much more.
Skippy says
Not to argue a point, but fans seem more divided on it than a majority loving it Luke.
joe1987a says
It’s got Katee Sackoff, so of course it’s not going to be very good. Seriously, fanboys have elevated one of the most overrated, untalented actresses around to the level of Genre Goddess. Ugh.
Steve Weiss says
Where’s that pink bitch ? I remember a few nice crotch shots of her.
Rick Stevenson says
And why do we care what some has-been thinks about a show he’s barely associated with?
Michael Rose says
When it comes to Power Rangers his opinion carries the most weight to me. I heard about the fan film but never saw it. If it did have cussing and drugs in it, I completely agree with him, that’s not even remotely what Power Rangers is about. And I also agree that you can’t do a Power Rangers movie without Tommy. Tommy is *the* Power Ranger.
daniel dresen says
He is on point. The nudity… distasteful. The shooting… excessive. Power rangers used laser weapons and melee weapons. They fought using martial arts. You can make a grittier version but, R was just a bit much. Yes, the overall plot I thought was good, but it detracted from the original copycat show. I would love to see a reboot have this guy in it again but then again… Tommy has always been a favorite of mine.
Sypherman says
I see where he’s coming from, but at the same time look at Batman. Batman is a comic book character that was designed for children and has evolved over time to have an audience for kids separately, adults separately and also a medium between the two that both can enjoy. Why can’t the same be done with Power Rangers? I thought the fan film was outstanding and I’m also looking forward to the actual MMPR movie.
Fish61324 says
So many long comments here. Dang lol
Dale C Twigg says
Had the producer put the same time and energy into Dredd the scenery wouldn’t of sucked so bad.
Victoria Sandora says
I watched it, and I agree completely with Jason David Frank. It was cool and all, but it wasn’t Power Rangers. I didn’t really enjoy it too much. The whole scene with Zack turned me off.
Ballzak Nason says
stupid morons.this is not “trailer” it is a fan made mini movie.far as this has been whining cuz he wasnt in it.or whining cuz at almost 50 don’t know his real age nor do i care to look.all he wants to do is be a power ranger just shows how untalented he is.far as the whiny “it’s to violent”folks go watch the waltons.here is a real easy simple thing you can do.if you don’t like somethin don’t watch it period plain and simple easy peasy.
Hotsuff Pan says
so now i know what non geeks feel like when listnening to me talk about marvel and dc.. power ranger fans? lol.. fkn serious? wait.that was a cuss word.. and maybe forced.. least i was not on drugs.. NO ONE CARES.. if.. and i do say if… they made a movie based upon the gritty realistic take of this fan movie.. someone other than you teletubbie geeks might watch it.. .. unreal.. power ranger fanboys.. too much..
Jerahmy says
What a cry baby bitch. I remember when he used to be cool.
Wicasawakan says
First..He’s not the first green ranger. He’s the first American green ranger. There’s a difference. He’s a part of the rip off of the real show from Japan and he’s profited off it because he can’t get work doing anything else. It’s the reason he’s making an ass out of himself begging to be in the new movie. Second..He had a chance to be in the fan based movie and when it DID come out and the majority of the fanbase loved it, he then lashes out against it. He feels he’s too good to fo fan based stuff when he can’t even get a good job. Grow up. You’re not a little kid on a Japanese knockoff show any more. I’d like extra cheese on my whopper Mr. Frank.
Christopher Abad Santos says
JASON DAVID FRANK –
Christopher Abad Santos says
JASON DAVID FRANK
Phineas Crumpy says
The Shankar video was certainly good. But it was a *demonstration* movie. Certainly, an actual Power Rangers release couldn’t be like that.
If anyone wants a real Power Rangers show, if you ask me… go back to the original Japanese Sentai shows.
BDRE says
God that guy’s an attention seeking hater.