'Power Rangers' release date, cast news: March 2017 premiere; Elizabeth Banks plays Rita Repulsa
The new film, which is based on the "Power Rangers" franchise, will debut in March 2017. The actress set to play the big bad in the 2017 "Power Rangers" film remake is Elizabeth Banks.
"Power Rangers" is set to debut on March 24, 2017, according to Comic Book. The film is produced by the original franchise creator — Haim Saban – under Saban Capital Group, and will be billed as "Saban's Power Rangers."
According to the synopsis released by Lionsgate, "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."
The five high school kids that will form the Power Rangers are Jason (Dacre Montgomery), Billy (RJ Cyler), Kimberly (Naomi Scott), Trini (Becky G), and Zack (Ludi Lin). They will be facing the villain named Rita Repulsa, who will be portrayed by Elizabeth Banks.
The actress — who often plays comedic roles such as the sarcastic commentator Gail Abernathy-McKadden in the "Pitch Perfect" films — told People that she has never played the villain before. Her look as Repulsa was revealed to be an all-metallic green suit with certain parts of her costume resembling reptilian scales.
Bank adds that she is expecting to play Repulsa with "world domination" in mind and that she plans on being "unpredictable as a character."
Another comedian will be joining the "Power Rangers" 2017 film. Bill Hader — known for his roles in "Saturday Night Live" and Amy Schumer's film "Trainwreck" — has been tapped to voice the robot Alpha 5, the robotic assistant to the Power Rangers who often shouts "Aye-yi-yi-yi-yi!" The official "Power Rangers" Twitter account posted the announcement of Hader joining the cast last September.
"Power Rangers" is set to debut on March 24, 2017.
