Fans were stunned last week when Lionsgate announced that Golden Globe Award-winning actor Bryan Cranston had joined the ‘Power Rangers’ cast as the team’s mentor Zordon. Cranston is a longtime part of the ‘Power Rangers’ family having voiced several villains in the earlier episodes. In addition, the first Blue Rangers, Billy Cranston was named after him. (David Yost played the original Billy, while R.J. Cyler plays him in the new movie.)
Cranston discussed his past with the show and his decision to take the role in the new movie:
“Yeah… I did voices. Dubbing voices for POWER RANGERS the series 35 years ago. But I can tell you… I would NOT have accepted the role if it was not for the script being so good. They have completely changed the tone. It is not the television series at all. It’s a fully realized updated reimagined approach to telling this SUPERHERO story. I haven’t done a superhero story and I was intrigued. I think this sounds interesting. Let’s try it!”
David Fielding played the original Zordon, who was rendered as a digitized floating head. Effects and budgets have come a long way since 1993. Cranston spoke to Entertainment Tonight to promote his upcoming film ‘The Infiltrator’, but too a moment to address how he will be portrayed in ‘Power Rangers’:
“Yes, it’s motion capture and it’s a lot of CGI-work. The tenant of that storyline is that this a real person who is trapped in this etherworld and it becomes this in-the-wall so to speak of [the command center], He still has a heart and mind, but an agenda that he’s got to get these five Power Rangers to defend the earth or else everyone they know will be killed. So, it’s exciting.”
You can watch his interview below:
The following is a mockup by artist BossLogic showing what Cranston MAY look like in the film:
Saban’s Power Rangers follows five ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove – and the world – is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat. Chosen by destiny, our heroes quickly discover that they are the only ones who can save the planet. But to do so they will have to overcome their real-life issues and band together as the Power Rangers before it is too late.
Directed by Dean Israelite, ‘Saban’s Power Rangers’ stars Elizabeth Banks, Bryan Cranston, R.J. Cyler, Becky G, Ludi Lin, Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, Lisa Berry, Caroline Cave, David Denman, Anjali Jay, sarah Grey, Emily Maddison, Kayden Magnuson, and Patrick Sabongui and hits theaters on April 24, 2017.
Source: Nuke the Fridge, Entertainment Tonight, (via Comic Book Movie)
