It's hard to believe that after years of series and a handful of films, most direct-to-video, we're finally getting the big budget, sci-fi action-packed version of Power Rangers that fans have been hoping for. Directed by Project Almanac's Dean Israelite and starring Breaking Bad's Brian Cranston as the extraterrestrial Zordon, the reboot of the franchise has already generated heavy buzz since the release of its first trailer back in October. Since then, we've had a flurry of updates from promo images to Comic-Con footage showing off the more alien designs of the Rangers' costumes.
We've also gotten a better idea of how Elizabeth Banks will look as the villainous Rita Repulsa (plus a cool bit of concept art from Max Landis' abandoned pitch for the Power Rangers movie). With so much spotlight on the heroes and villains however, many have been wondering how Zordon's quirky robot helper Alpha 5 will look in the film.
Voiced by comedic actor Bill Hader, Alpha 5's design in Power Rangers has now been unveiled - and it's definitely a departure. Boasting the same alien aesthetic as the rest of the film's characters, the bio-tech hybrid look of Alpha is already dividing fans old and new alike. Still, it fits in with the overall style of the new film and we likely will have to wait to see it in action before we can properly judge how effective of a redesign it is.
In the meantime, Ranger Nation has given us our first look at a new 5" Alpha toy that will go on sale soon, possibly in time for the holidays. Check it out, below:
As far as details go, this Alpha 5 toy photo doesn't reveal much that the character's concept art hadn't already. What's perhaps more interesting is the more nuanced, less shiny look at his new design. Unlike the concept art, Alpha's colors here are more muted, with the blue and red of the body replaced by silver and the oil-slick helmet color turned into a silver-blue. Whether this mechanized E.T. design will impress filmgoers and/or win over kids, we'll just have to wait for the release of the film - or at the least, a new trailer that shows Alpha 5 in action.
Considering the movie will be here in March, we're likely right around the corner from a new trailer and a flurry of TV spots and promotional material. It's even plausible that a new Power Rangers trailer will be attached to an upcoming sci-fi tentpole like Passengers and/or Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, in an attempt to court sci-fi loving audiences. As we await the film's release, stay tuned for updates on all things Power Rangers.
Source: Ranger Nation