Power Rangers is under new ownership after being purchased by Hasbro, meaning a new movie with a new cast could be just around the corner. With 25 different iterations of the color-coded heroes over the past 25 years, as well as three feature-length movies, the Power Rangers might be equipped to save the world from aliens, but they can't seem to save themselves from change. In fact, after Hasbro recently acquired the rights to the franchise from Saban Entertainment, change is in the air yet again—more than likely in the form of a simultaneous film and TV revamp.

So, assuming Hasbro eventually gives the big screen greenlight to a new Power Rangers movie, their approach is key. Given the criticisms aimed at least year's lackluster attempt to rejuvenate the franchise, their best course of action is nailing the ingredients that count (i.e. a raw and realistic look at its teenage characters, impressive action set pieces to rival modern blockbusters, and an evolution of the mythos to feel grounded in an updated take on the universe). Basically, imagine the Avengers version of Power Rangers, but written by John Green, showcasing dark, worldwide catastrophe from an adolescent perspective.

With a reboot, Hasbro can still capitalize on nostalgia and measure up to the competition without disrespecting the source material; it's just vital to secure a distinct tone that appeals to the masses (something that major tentpoles still struggle with). And with a cast to complement that mass-appealing sensibility, a new go (go) at Power Rangers could potentially turn out be the game-changer this series needed.

Kelvin Harrison Jr. - Jason, the Red Ranger

Kelvin Harrison Monster

As the leader of the Power Rangers, Red Ranger Jason Lee Scott is as confident as he is physically capable. And though these might be two key qualities necessary to wrangle in a young television audience, the same isn't quite as true when depicting a budding hero. The best kinds of heroes are flawed and imperfect. They're the outcasts seeking a purpose whose heroism is all the more earned on account of how well they ultimately subvert expectations.

Kelvin Harrison Jr. has already proven to nail these characteristics in his young career. Having starred in It Comes at Night and the Oscar-nominated Mudbound, as well as the upcoming adaptation of Walter Dean Myers' novel Monster, Harrison has the subtle combination of sensitivity and strength to breathe new life into this character.

After all, as Alan Turing said in The Imitation Game"Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine." To feel relevant, that's the kind of hero the Power Rangers universe needs.

Jessica Barden - Kimberly, the Pink Ranger

Jessica Barden in The End of the F***ing World

In the original Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers series, Pink Ranger Kimberly Ann Hart is bubbly, but badass. And that's about it. In last year's Power Rangers movie, however, screenwriter John Gatins thankfully complicated her pristine personality by removing her from the center of her high school's social circle. She's jaded, rebellious, and actually feels human; and Hasbro would do well to more or less copy these cues in the remake, while also expanding on the character's inherent grit. The next step is finding someone who fits the bill, and Jessica Barden has more than proven her ability to imbue an electric kind of punk-pathos in the Netflix series The End of the F***ing World.

The modern teenager isn't just angry at the world, they're active. So, in tackling a character that may well explode if they don't find something worth fighting for, Barden would be a volatile force to be reckoned with as a Ranger.

Page 2: Zack, Billy, and Trini

Judghead at Pop's looking confused in Riverdale.

Cole Sprouse - Zack, the Black Ranger

As with most of the other characters in the original television series, Black Ranger Zack Taylor was fairly straightforward. He had an upbeat personality and liked to dance, and that was pretty much the extent of his appeal. Thankfully, his personality gets an upgrade in the movie, and Zack's confident outer shell turns out to be a kind of emotional force field hiding personal insecurities. So, to call it an improvement is an understatement.

In the remake, Cole Sprouse is certainly someone who can simultaneously juggle the battle against extraterrestrial threats and self-defeating traits. In The CW's Riverdale, Sprouse is a far cry from the effervescent jokester he was in Disney's The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, and in playing the Black Ranger, he could carry over some of Jughead's moody sensibilities to Zack's woeful, but capable, personality. After all, desperate times call for desperate measures—and few types of people are more desperate to experience something bigger than themselves than angst-ridden teenagers.

Justice Smith - Billy, the Blue Ranger

Justice Smith

At first glance, Blue Ranger Billy Cranston is your textbook geek; a bookworm who would much rather be cyber, than social. So, to elevate his personality in the Power Rangers movie, Billy is revealed to not only be autistic, but a target for bullies. More importantly, however, is the fact that he's as brilliant as he is selfless.

So, in breathing new life into him for the remake, these are worthy traits to build off of. That said, he's also ripe for some cocky, know-it-all comic relief. And proving that he can nail comedy and charm in both Every Day and what we've seen of him in the upcoming Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Justice Smith would be perfect for this iteration the character. He can display his intelligence in more of a confidant (if not cocky) manner, which would definitely present him in a fresher and more secure sort of way. After all, as opposed to the way "geeks" are typically depicted in most YA books or movies, clever is cool nowadays.

Awkwafina - Trini, the Yellow Ranger

Awkwafina wearing a toque/beanie and glasses and looking at the camera.

Easily the most underwritten character in the original Power Rangers series is Yellow Ranger Trini Kwan. She's kind and soft-spoken, but more than anything, her personality is desperate for growth. In last year's movie, her outsider status parallels with an inner struggle appropriately referring to her identity, and while it was interesting to see Trini explored from a more layered angle, there's definitely more on which the reboot can expand.

For example, given the fact that the Power Rangers franchise too often does an injustice to its female characters, a force of personality like Awkwafina could elevate Trini to memorable status. In fact, she could even pair up as an equal to Billy in terms of intelligence (after all, why let Billy have all the gadget-geared fun?). Awkwafina could implement her colorful temperament to the role, and this new take on the character could even respond to the underwhelming way female characters are usually written in this franchise, with Trini's arc geared at maintaining an equal footing beside similarly-minded characters.

Page 3: Tommy, Zordon, and Alpha 5

Cameron Monaghan

Cameron Monaghan - Tommy, the Green (and White) Ranger

Tommy Oliver is easily the most complicated Power Ranger—especially considering that his origins aren't at all aligned with the original quintet. Introduced as the villainous Green Ranger summoned by Rita Repulsa, Tommy proves himself to be one of the Rangers' more indomitable antagonists, ultimately realigning his allegiance later on and renouncing his evil ways (and eventually becoming the White Ranger). So, to tackle a character as complicated as Tommy, it's absolutely necessary to cast an actor who is capable of being presented as both wicked and approachable.

Enter Cameron Monaghan. Best known for his scene-stealing role in Fox's Gotham as the villainous Jerome, as well as Ian Gallagher in Showtime's Shameless, Monaghan has proven his ability to tackle that balance with sincere precision.

He's intimidating but vulnerable; jarring, but subtle; and charismatic, but understated. In fact, in the upcoming adaptation of Joanne Proulx's novel Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet (retitled to Anthem), Monaghan plays a troubled teenager tasked with dealing with his inner dark side. It'd be a perfect jumping-off role for someone like Tommy.

Keith David - Zordon

Keith David in Person of Interest

Zordon is more than just a floating head. He's a mentor to the Power Rangers and a beacon for good (and in the Power Rangers movie, it's revealed that he was even once a Power Ranger himself). In terms of grounding this series in a realistic setting, the concept of Zordon isn't necessarily an easy pill to swallow, but it's doable.

To pull it off, though, an actor with proven voice-acting skills is key. What's more, it'd also require someone with natural charm and just a hint of intimidation. Which brings us to Keith David.

Considering the voice-over work he's done for movies (Coraline), television (Gargoyles)and even video games (Mass Effect), as well as his live-action performances in The Thing and Platoon, David has a dominating presence that is somehow equally endearing. So, in preparing the Rangers for battle, he'd certainly fit into this updated take on the Power Rangers universe.

Doug Jones - Alpha 5

Doug Jones

As Zordon's robot sidekick, Alpha 5 is fairly cut-and-dry. Facilitating the Rangers' journey from misfit teens to heroes, he also doubles as comic relief that sometimes borders on annoying. So, how do you elevate this sort of character? Introduce creature-actor Doug Jones into the mix.

Considering the tonal shift in a feature-length reboot, Alpha 5 could potentially become a far more humanized and absorbing character with someone like Jones at the helm. Best known for his work in Guillermo del Toro movies as the Faun in Pan's Labyrinth and the recent Best Picture winner The Shape of Water as the Amphibian Man, the role that best complements this new take on Alpha 5 is Abe Sapien from the Hellboy movies. Though you shouldn't expect the same voice (as David Hyde Pierce lent his voice to the character), Jones would bring a humorous, yet balanced, C-3PO-esque vibe to the character, as opposed to the slapstick mannerisms to which the character is typically likened.

Page 4: Rita, Zedd, and, Goldar

Sarah Paulson in American Horror Story Hotel

Sarah Paulson - Rita Repulsa

An evil sorceress with a personal vendetta against Zordon, Rita Repulsa is the main antagonist in both the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers series and Power Rangers movie. And though she's someone who could easily fall into the realm of throwaway villains, the feature-length iteration of her character positioned her as a former Power Ranger (the original Green Ranger, to be exact), though not without homicidal tendencies.

While Elizabeth Banks certainly did justice to the character in the 2017 movie, a character actress with a proven track record in on-screen psychosis would bring a welcome level of manic gravitas to the role—and given her over-the-top performances in FX's American Horror Story, Sarah Paulson is more than capable. Her insane tonal shifts, as well as the fact that she's perfected the ability to play characters who audiences love to hate, position Paulson as someone who could do deserved justice to Rita (even if her depiction of the character is slightly more chaotic and unhinged than previous versions).

Pedro Pascal - Lord Zedd

Kingsman 2 casting Game of Thrones star Pedro Pascal

Behind every great villain is an even greater threat pulling the strings, and in Power Rangers, the man behind the curtain is Lord Zedd. A self-professed "Emperor of Evil," Zedd is visually grotesque and emotionally stunted, acting on nothing more than an urge to destroy and control.

Zedd is a great character through which a reboot can explore the more fantastical elements of the Power Rangers universe. And with someone like Pedro Pascal in the role, he could realistically tackle the all-powerful, but authentic, demeanor necessary to fit with the style of this reboot's vibe. In fact, whereas Rita would essentially be portrayed as the Wicked Witch of the West meets Jack Torrance, Pascal's interpretation of the character would be more closely related to Hannibal Lecter—but with impressive swordsmanship and an exposed brain. The physical intimidation is obvious with this character, but this is someone whose manipulative strengths could stem from mere presence and line delivery, which Pascal could convey perfectly.

Mickey Rourke - Goldar

When it comes to characters who were previously depicted as either a man in a suit or pure CGI, interpretation is wide open. So, when it comes to presenting Goldar in a more realistic atmosphere, overall brute strength makes the most sense. And who better to embody brute strength—and just a touch of instability—than Mickey Rourke?

Even though the role wouldn't necessarily require the emotional weight that Rourke brought to performances in The Wrestler and Sin City, they still prove that he could do justice to the character. Goldar is definitely the muscle in the Power Rangers universe, but that doesn't mean he has to be an aimless meathead. Rourke would make for a worthy opponent in this grisly, truer-to-life take on space magic and alien tech. Even under heavy prosthetics, Rourke could make this character feel like a viable threat. Especially after the drastic change to his character in the last movie.

Page 5: Bulk and Skull and the Minions

Harris Dickinson and Barry Keoghan - Bulk and Skull

The bullies in Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers are little more than cartoonish stereotypes. Comprised of the duo Bulk and Skull, they really only exist in order to mildly inconvenience the Power Rangers when they aren't suited up or serve as comedic relief. So, naturally, they wouldn't really fit into this updated universe.

That said, an updated version of these characters could actually play integral roles in terms of showcasing the non-cosmic issues plaguing the heroes. There are bad people in the world—even in high school—and they don't need the added effect of superpowers. So, with someone like Bulk, Beach Rat's Harris Dickinson could bring a colder, more vacant interpretation to the character (think Henry Bowers in It).

Since bullies (or in this case, teenage psychopaths) are stronger in numbers, it makes sense that the character Skull is the yin to Bulk's yang. Or more specifically, in this case, someone like Barry Keoghan could be the sadism to Bulk's physical intimidation.

Tom Noonan, Timothy Spall, and Stephen Merchant - Finster, Squatt, and Baboo

Tom Noonan in Synecdoche New York

The villainous sidekicks in the Power Rangers universe tend to lean closer to "silly" than  "sadistic," so it's fair to say that if the remaining three characters are to show up in a reboot, their cornball characteristics would be toned down. In fact, this facelift ought to apply to all of Rita and Zedd's minions. The best way to revise them would probably be to borrow from Avengers: Infinity War's Black Order. Also minions, but personalized, darker, and taken far more seriously, they carry legitimate weight.

One such character is Finster. An alchemist and monster-maker, Finster has the potential to be much more menacing than the original show allowed him to be. He's the series mad scientist, and with someone like Tom Noonan (who's probably best known for his roles as Frankenstein's Monster in The Monster Squad and Mr. Ulman in The House of the Devil), Finster could finally earn the tragic portrayal his character deserves.

Squatt would also require tweaking in order to translate to the big screen. And to realize that update, someone like Timothy Spall would be an ideal choice. He's shown his vile side in movies like Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, the Harry Potter series, and even as real-life Nazi apologist David Irving in Denial, so he'd definitely lend some creepy credibility to the role.

The last of the evil henchmen is Baboo, a sort of humanoid bat creature who shares both a proficiency in alchemy and overall neglect from his leaders with Finster (though none of the monster-making skills). Typically paired up with Squatt, Baboo is a true loyalist and zealot, which incidentally draws more parallels to the Black Order from Infinity War. 

Though void of a moral compass—let alone very much self-worth—Baboo is a slave to leadership and is portrayed with meager levels of intelligence. However, with a dose of dark wit from actor Stephen Merchant, interpreting this character can be potentially fitting for this universe. Especially considering his performance in Logan as Caliban, Merchant's ability to channel a very peculiar and alien vibe could do well to make Baboo more than just some bumbling character in a suit. He can be properly threatening.

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Ultimately, the casting is determined by the direction the studio decided to take the movie. What works for a lighthearted and campy revival wouldn't work for a more serious YA sci-fi action epic, but based on what Hasbro has done with its other brands, like Transformers and G.I. Joe, the more cornball approach is the less likely path, meaning serious consideration should be given to these suggestions to bring new life to a Power Rangers reboot.

More: 15 Power Rangers Fan Theories That Completely Change The Show (And The Movie)

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