Power Rangers: Kimberly's Original Backstory Was Too Hardcore For Saban
The characters in the Power Rangers reboot are mostly outcasts, cast aside for one reason or another. While that is true of Kimberly as well, the original version of her backstory was even harsher.
Power Rangers writer John Gatkins and director Dean Israelite describe the original version on the Blu-ray audio commentary (via Power Rangers NOW). In the film, Kimberly breaks her friend's trust by sharing a private photo of her on social media. That's deplorable on its own, but Gatkins revealed that it's actually tame compared to the original.
"One thing that was difficult about Kimberly for me was that initially I just wanted her to have cyberbullied this girl [Amanda Clarke]" said Gatkins. "But it was hard, to ask a character who really is a straight up cyberbully, to buy her as one of the original Power Rangers. And Saban was like 'Guys, that's really hardcore'. So we had to kind of soften it and pull back a little bit and have it be that she didn't take the picture, but she got the picture and redistributed it. Which is kind of a little bit of confusing math to make work."
That first version would make it incredibly difficult to root for her by film's end, so the new version was probably the right way to go.
Israelite believes it worked out for the best, saying "[The original plans] didn't speak to the fact that she betrayed someone. It feels predatory in some way. But really her issue is that her friend trusted her, and she destroyed that trust. So somehow this version speaks better to this version of the movie."
You can find the description for Power Rangers below.
"Saban's Power Rangers follows five ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove – and the world – is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat. Chosen by destiny, our heroes quickly discover that they are the only ones who can save the planet. But to do so they will have to overcome their real-life issues and band together as the Power Rangers before it is too late."
As part of the 24-year-old global phenomenon and based on the five Rangers from the original TV series, "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,", the reimagined movie features a modern generation of Rangers including Dacre Montgomery (TV's "Stranger Things") as Jason the Red Ranger, Naomi Scott (The 33) as Kimberly the Pink Ranger, RJ Cyler (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) as Billy the Blue Ranger, Ludi Lin (Monster Hunt) as Zack the Black Ranger, and Becky G. (Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising) as Trini the Yellow Ranger, as they attempt to stop the evil and unpredictable Rita Repulsa (played by Elizabeth Banks, The Hunger Games Franchise) from destroying their city…and ultimately the world. Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad") as Zordon, and Bill Hader (Finding Dory) as Alpha 5 train the Rangers to morph and master their powers as a united team.
The Saban's Power Rangers DVD will include exclusive audio commentary with director Dean Israelite and writer John Gatins, and deleted/alternate/extended scenes and outtakes. Saban's Power Rangers will be available on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and DVD for the suggested retail price of $42.99, $39.99, and $29.95, respectively
Power Rangers is in stores now.
MORE POWER RANGERS: Counterfeit Power Rangers Toys Seized By Customs / Movie Writer Reveals The Original After Credits Sequence / Black Panther's Lupita Nyong'o Goes Undercover At Comic-Con As A Power Ranger
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