New Power Rangers Movie 2016 Release Date, Cast News Update: Hunger Game Actress Elizabeth Banks to Play Villian Rita Repulsa

By Mark Aserit
Power Rangers
'Power Rangers' Concept Art

The villain of the much-awaited Power Rangers movie reboot from Lionsgate has finally revealed. The casting announcement made some long-time Power Rangers fan ecstatic as the group of mighty superheroes will be coming back on March 24, 2017. Here's what we know so far about Power Rangers movie premier date, characters, and rumors.

Elizabeth Banks has been cast as Rita Repulsa, the villainous witch, and enemy of Power Rangers squad. The inclusion of Banks in the upcoming superhero movie is confirmed by the official Twitter account of Power Rangers.

"How evil @ElizabethBanks joins the #PowerRangersMovie cast as the villainous, #RitaRepulsa pic.twitter.com/BJQV1KAwYv," the movie's official Twitter account posted.

iDigital Times said the star power of Banks is a big factor because the cast of the Power Rangers movie reboot is composed of newcomers. RJ Cyler, Becky G, Ludi Lin, Naomi Scott and Dacre Montgomery will portray the Rangers who are tasked to defend the earth against conquerors.

Rita Repulsa is the main villain of the Rangers. She is equipped with a metallic staff topped with a distinctive crescent shape. She uses it to create soulless and robotic soldiers. Long-time Power Ranger fan surely knows that this villain wants to conquer the earth because that's what she always wants.

For Elizabeth Banks, portraying a villain character is not a new thing for her. She previously played Effie Trinket for Mockingjay Part 2.

According to Heroic Hollywood, audiences will first see Rita in the prolog of the film which takes place during the Cretaceous period, before the dinosaurs become extinct. "Rita fights that period's Power Rangers. The Red Ranger is also fan favorite ZORDON!"

Anticipation for the film has been building now, ever since online reports published that Lionsgate would remake the Saban Entertainment classic. Dean Israelite, who directed the science fiction movie Project Almanac, is on board to direct the upcoming Rangers movie.

Furthermore, writers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz, who wrote several superhero movies like Thor and X-Men: First Class, are tasked to make the script.

Media tycoon Haim Saban and SVP of Power Rangers Franchise Brian Casentini are the producers of the 2017 Power Rangers movie.

Fun facts in the Power Rangers franchise. "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers have captured the highest Nielsen ratings for a network children's TV show," The Baltimore Sun wrote in December 1993. The TV show began filming in September 1992 and shot for about six months. When it was aired on television, it was a big hit. It top-ranked in weekday shows for kids aged two to 11.

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