The original Red Ranger is back, and according to actor Austin St. John, it's not just for a role in the new season of Power Rangers Beast Morphers. One of the most pleasantly nostalgic surprises to come out of San Diego Comic-Con 2019 was the announcement that St. John, the original Red Ranger, would be returning for the new season of Power Rangers. During an interview with Screen Rant, the actor/martial artists revealed his return to the franchise might be bigger than a single guest appearance.
While speaking to Screen Rant, the star was asked about the prospect of returning for a Power Rangers animated series, one which follows the original characters who formed the backbone of the franchise, and who are still among the most recognizable and beloved faces in the series' 25-year run. Immediately, St. John responded with, "Absolutely," but that's not all.
After taking a brief moment to carefully choose his words, St. John elaborated on his response, delivering a tease which should excite many Power Rangers fans, particularly those with a fondness for the original, "Mighty Morphin'" era: "There may or may not be one in the works I've been working on for three years, and I'm very careful about releasing information for. But just know, you're not done with Jason."
It's easy to understand why St. John would want to play his cards close to his chest. In today's world of revivals and reboots, it's easy to get excited for projects which may never make it off the ground, and St. John doesn't want to be someone who puts the cart before the horse and build hype for a Power Rangers event which may never see the light of day. Still, the fact he was willing to offer such a tease may indicate a particular confidence in an animated iteration of the long-running martial arts superhero saga.
The Power Rangers brand has always been a favorite among young children with its blend of martial arts, creative monsters, tongue-in-cheek humor, and moral lessons for its target audience. However, the series maintains a strong following among older viewers who appreciate the aesthetics of the show while harboring an intense nostalgia for the characters, particularly the original five Rangers (and Tommy, the sixth Ranger who was introduced early in the show's initial run).
St. John's Red Ranger was the original leader of the team, and the 44-year-old actor remains a favorite among fans who devoured his numerous adventures when they were young children. His upcoming appearance in season 2 of Power Rangers Beast Morphers marks the actor's first live-action Power Rangers appearance since 2002's "Forever Red," which served as a tenth anniversary special for the franchise. Given all the media attention sparked by the return of St. John, hopes are high the momentum will prove enough to allow the studio to move forward with more Power Rangers projects. Given his apparent enthusiasm over an animated version of Power Rangers with several of the original actors, it appears St. John shares that hope.