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The film has generated a ton of online discussion, with some former Rangers and fans declaring it to be a bit too risque, and Saban, the owners of the Power Rangers copyrights, demanding it be pulled down from YouTube and Vimeo (only to apparently allow it to be replaced days later with an added disclaimer that it was unofficial).
So what did second-generation Red Ranger Steve Cardenas and second-generation Black Ranger Johnny Yong Bosch have to say about Power/Rangers? Check it out:
Loved your power ranger fan film @JosephKahn glad to see Adam was killed off. If there’s a sequel hit me up haha
— Johnny Yong Bosch (@johnnyyongbosch) February 24, 2015
@_amyjojohnson @vanderjames @adishankarbrand I like this parody. It’s interesting. Thanks for not leaving out the second generation of MMPR
— Steve Cardenas (@SteveCardenasPR) February 27, 2015
@adishankarbrand tell @vanderjames i especially liked his take on me. LOL
— Steve Cardenas (@SteveCardenasPR) February 28, 2015
In response to repeated fan inquiries, Bosch clarified that he had no ill will toward the character that made him famous, but rather that death would have been a more satisfying conclusion than he thought he got on TV:
@liamvarley21 I don’t hate him, I just want a better ending than how they wrote us out! Dying like a hero would be best!
— Johnny Yong Bosch (@johnnyyongbosch) February 24, 2015
Karan Ashley, the second-generation Yellow Ranger, also chimed in — although her comment was not only on Instagram, but lengthy, so rather than embed it, we’ll include it below.
People keep asking me my thoughts on the PR Fan film released today. I commented a few places but thought I would give my thoughts since that is the question of the day… I liked it. I hate Aisha was left out especially since Rocky and Adam were depicted. But I liked it a lot. I liked what they did with all the other characters especially Rocky and Zach. I enjoyed seeing something so different from what we all are expecting. Super dark and extremly gritty. Not saying that is right, thats just what I like… lol
When I think of PR, I think family film–Kids show. This was not for kids and I think some of the edgy stuff could have been skipped and this still would have been amazing. I didn’t really see it as a true depiction of what Saban/Lions Gate would do but if I took that out of the equation, I really liked it for what it was.
I loved the production quality and I am all about people being creative and doing what they visualize. I like seeing things flipped and I love being surprised. with that being said, I enjoyed it.
Keep the fan films coming! I have watched almost all of them and have been very impressed with “Your” creativity.
The property is headed back to the big screen soon, with a new feature film being developed by Saban and Lionsgate. some of the first-generation Rangers have been rumored to possibly be involved in some way, and producers have recoiled from calling it a remake or a reboot, offering instead that it would honor the source material.
That film is due in theaters July 22, 2016.