The original Green PowerRanger appears in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, raising the question of whether Jason David Frank filmed scenes for the reunion. Original Tommy Oliver actor Jason David Frank died in November 2022, leaving an enormous legacy within the Power Rangers franchise. It must be noted, though, that Once & Always was filmed before David Frank’s passing.
Power Rangers: Once & Always is the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ 30th-anniversary special, which sees the original heroes from the Mighty Morphin era reuniting to fight a robot version of Rita Repulsa (voiced by Barbara Goodson). The Power Rangers reunion addresses the original Yellow Ranger Trini’s (Thuy Trang) fate in the story, and introduces a new character – Mihn (Charlie Kersh), Trini’s daughter. Other returning Power Rangers characters include Mighty Morphin characters Rocky (Steve Cardenas), Kat (Catherine Sutherland), Aisha (Karan Ashley), and Adam (Johnny Yong Bosch).
Jason David Frank Is Not In Power Rangers: Once & Always
Jason David Frank did not participate in the Power Rangers reunion special, although Once & Always was filmed before the actor passed. Jason David Frank’s last appearance as Green Power Ranger Tommy Oliver in a Power Rangers TV show happened in Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel’s “Dimensions in Danger,” in which Tommy teamed up with old and new Rangers to save the multiverse. Jason David Frank did not return for Power Rangers: Once & Always because the actor wanted to focus on other projects non-Power Rangers related, even discussing retiring from his time with the franchise in 2022. Of the six original Power Rangers lineup, only Walter Emanuel Jones’ Zack and David Yost’s Billy return.
Jason David Frank played Tommy for several years and appeared in multiple Power Rangers shows, not to mention the occasional appearances in Power Rangers crossover episodes. The many Tommy Oliver Power Rangers forms showcase how special the character – and the actor – were to the saga, and there is no question that Tommy is the greatest Power Ranger that ever was. The fact that Once & Always was written and filmed before David Frank’s passing means that the Power Rangers reunion cannot settle Tommy’s fate in-universe.
How Tommy Oliver Appears In Power Rangers: Once & Always
The Green Ranger is in the Power Rangers reunion, as first revealed in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always trailer, although the character never removes his helmet. The original lineup of Power Rangers fight together twice in Once & Always, except that Zack and Billy are the only ones to remove their helmets. Once & Always sees Jason (Austin St. John), Kimberly (Amy Jo Johnson), and Tommy (Jason David Frank) all captured following that second fight, effectively writing the trio out of the special.
That is why Alpha, Billy, and Zack will have to call other Rangers for help in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, namely Rocky and Kat. Rocky replaced Jason as the Red Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Season 2 while Kat replaced Kimberly as the Pink Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Season 2. Tommy did not have an immediate Power Rangers replacement until Turbo Season 2 when Jason David Frank left the show and T.J.(Selwyn Ward) became the Turbo Red Ranger. Hopefully, future Power Rangers content can wrap up Tommy Oliver’s story in tribute to Jason David Frank.
Power Rangers: Once & Always Paid Tribute To Jason David Frank
Though the Green Power Ranger is captured by Rita Repulsa early in the special, and the Ranger himself isn’t seen, the special does pay tribute to Jason David Frank. The bulk of the story focuses on Minh understanding her mother’s legacy, allowing the story itself to pay tribute to Trini and actor Thuy Trang. The ending credits, however, also dedicate Power Rangers: Once & Always to Jason David Frank.
A clip is used in the credits from the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers episode “The Song Of Guitardo” in which Kimberly and Zack sing a song about friendship. Within the episode, the song is written specifically for Tommy as the team is aware the Green Power Ranger is in danger and the power from his Dragonzord coin is dwindling. At the time, Tommy was going to have to leave the team completely because morphing was dangerous for his health. Tommy eventually became the White Ranger instead, able to lead the team into battle.
As Kimberly sings the final line of her song, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always credits share images of both Thuy Trang and Jason David Frank from their time in the Power Rangers franchise. She sings, “Memories never die. In our hearts, they’ll always live, and never say goodbye.” Though the line was originally in reference to remembering Tommy’s time as the Green Power Ranger, it’s clearly meant to reference the time the actors spent on the show and fans can still remember them in the roles. The dedication also reminds the audience, as does the title of the special, “Once a Ranger, always a Ranger.”