The move would be historic for the well known series.
David ArtaviaAccording to new reports, the latest Power Rangers reboot will feature a transgender ranger.
According to the pop culture website We Got This Covered, sources close to the studio claim one of the new Rangers will be a trans woman, though it's unclear which character it will be.
News of the film was only announced last December, with director Jonathan Entswistle at the helm. While the last version released in 2017 only had moderate success, it was praised more for its diverse casting and storytelling.
That iteration showed the Yellow Ranger, Trini, coming to terms with her sexual orientation. At one point, another character assumes she's having boy problems, before they come to understand she's actually having "female companion inconveniences."
"For Trini, really she's questioning a lot about who she is," director Dean Israelite told The Hollywood Reporter at the time. "She hasn't fully figured it out yet. I think what's great about that scene and what that scene propels for the rest of the movie is, 'That's OK.' The movie is saying, 'That's OK,' and all of the kids have to own who they are and find their tribe."
We Got This Covered also reported that the Blue Ranger may be gay in the next film, and that the red ranger — typically a fan-favorite — may beplayed by a female, which would be another first in the franchise's history.
While none of this has been confirmed by the studio just yet, diversifying the Power Rangers universe to include more gay, bi, trans, and queer characters would be monumental for young fans.
The show itself has a history of inclusivity in regards to casting. The original 1990s show starred an African-American and an Asian-American as its leads which wouldn't have been common at the time. The Blue Ranger, was played by David Yost who came out in 2010, claiming that he'd quit the show due to homophobia — though executive producers reported that to be false.
Of course, while in recent years there has been a growing visibility of LGBTQ+ superheroes on television due to shows on The CW like Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, Black Lightning, and Supergirl, the movement has been a slow burn in regards to the big screen.
If these rumors are true, we'll certainly be waiting with anticipation!
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0Power Rangers Reboot Will Reportedly Have a Trans Ranger
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