Over the past two decades, the Power Rangers franchise has dominated the airwaves. Through 20 incarnations and two feature-length films, Saban's live-action children's series about teenagers using superpowers and mechanical robots to battle aliens has lived on beyond everyone's wildest expectations. But after 22 years on TV screens around the world, it was definitely time for a reboot.

So when Lionsgate announced a year ago that they were making a Power Rangers reboot movie, many nostalgic and now grownup fans jumped for joy. And when X-Men: First Class screenwriters Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz were brought on board two months later to pen the script, it seemed like another win for the big screen comeback. But then came the news that Project Almanac's Dean Israelite was reportedly in negotiations to direct, despite his slim resume, and today brings yet another curious update from the movie studio.

Lionsgate has decided to delay their Power Rangers reboot from July 22, 2016 to January 13, 2017, giving the film an extra six months to continue development, begin casting, finish filming and finalize special effects. While no specific reason for the change was given, the move also takes the reboot away from other big movies like Ghostbusters, King Arthur and Bourne 5 that would have surely taken some of Power Rangers' box office.

So on the surface it seems that Lionsgate made the right decision, especially seeing as how filming would have needed to begin very soon to make their previous release date and there's still no confirmed director or cast for the movie.

Power Rangers Movie Director Project Almanac

However, January is a strange month to place what could end up being a big moneymaker for the studio.

In the past, blockbuster movies were either scheduled in the summer (when theatrical attendance was high) or in November/December (when families were again on break). The rest of the year was commonly considered dump months, a time when studios released movies with lowered commercial and critical expectations. But those ideas have recently started to change. In fact, American Sniper was the highest-grossing domestic movie of last year after opening wide in January 2015.

Next year Deadpool, Allegiant, Batman V Superman and more will all premiere outside the aforementioned time periods, giving way to a new strategy where must-see movies are released throughout the year. TV started the trend over the last few years, and it appears now that the film industry will continue it.

But what do you think, Screen Rant readers? Are you excited to see a new Power Rangers movie? Are you sad about the delay? Let us know in the comments.

Power Rangers hits theaters January 13, 2017.