Saban’s Power Rangers (2017) ends with the heroes defeating Rita Repulsa and accepting their roles as Power Rangers. A reboot of the 1990s TV show, Power Rangers featured new versions of the world and the characters we were introduced to in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Just like in the original show, one of the Rangers’ first missions as a team was fighting Goldar, who, in this version, was a giant monster literally made of gold. Power Rangers’ climatic battle saw the five Rangers piloting their Zords as they fought Goldar and Rita in Angel Grove.

Similar to what happened in virtually every episode of Power Rangers, the heroes soon realized that they would need Megazord power to defeat the monster. After struggling to understand how to pilot a giant robot, the Power Rangers defeated Goldar and gave Rita Repulsa a chance to surrender. However, the corrupted Green Ranger would never let Zordon decide her fate. Instead, she attacked the Megazord on her own and was easily defeated. After the battle, the Rangers were cherished as heroes by the people of Angel Grove. Still, Jason and the others all returned to their regular lives, which included attending detention.

Why Jason Gives Zordon The Power Sword Back At The End Of Power Rangers

Jason And Zordon Were Finally On Good Terms

A huge part of Jason’s character arc in the Power Rangers movie was his relationship with Zordon, who, in this universe, was once a Red Ranger himself. Jason had to show Zordon that he was worthy of being a Red Ranger and wielding the Power Sword. However, Zordon also had to earn Jason’s trust, especially after the new Red Ranger discovered the real reason the intergalactic being wanted the Rangers to access the Morphin Grid. Jason eventually learned how to trust himself and Zordon, leading the team to victory against Rita Repulsa.

When Jason returned the sword to the Command Center, Zordon told him that he had earned it and should keep it. Jason then said he would eventually come back for it. By returning the sword, Jason was acknowledging that he now respected and trusted Zordon. This cemented their mentor-mentee relationship and confirmed that Jason was ready to be the next Red Ranger.

What Happened To Rita Repulsa After The Power Rangers Defeated Her

Rita Repulsa Was Back Where It All Began

Rita Repulsa had a very cartoonish ending in Power Rangers, which could not have been more fitting for one of the most iconic 1990s villains. The Megazord slapped Rita Repulsa out of the planet, hitting her so hard that the former Green Ranger left orbit. While this moment was partially played for laughs, it was also a reference to how we first met Rita in the original Power Rangers TV show. Rita Repulsa is floating in space near the moon by the end of the movie, mirroring her space dumpster days from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

A famous unwritten rule of the Power Rangers universe is that Rita Repulsa always returns. In the original show alone, Rita was written off and later returned multiple times. Even after the character was redeemed at the end of Power Rangers in Space, she also canonically returned in Power Rangers Mystic Force as a force for good and in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always as a villain once more. In other words, Rita would have likely returned in future Power Rangers movies had the franchise continued.

Power Rangers’ Tommy Oliver Reference Explained & What It Was Setting Up

Power Rangers’ Mid-Credits Scene Was A Major Sequel Hook

Power Rangers’ mid-credits scene namedrops “Tommy Oliver,” arguably the most important name in the entire franchise. The scene sees a teacher calling for “Tommy Oliver,” whose seat in the detention room is empty. That said, there was a green jacket wrapped around the chair, suggesting this version of Tommy was already embracing green as his color. Whether Tommy had already been captured and turned by Rita at this point in the timeline is impossible to say.

Considering that Power Rangers 2 never happened, we don’t know how exactly Tommy Oliver would have come into play in the sequel. Still, based on the iconic “Green With Evil” arc from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, we can ᴀssume that Power Rangers 2 would have seen Jason’s team fighting against the evil Green Ranger before they realized Tommy was being used by Rita Repulsa. The fact that Rita was once the Green Ranger in this continuity would have made her relationship with Tommy even more interesting.

Yes, Those Were Two Of The Original Power Rangers At The End

The Original Pink And Green Rangers Appeared

One of the most emotional parts of the 2017 Power Rangers movie is seeing Amy Jo Johnson and Jason David Frank, who played Kimberly and Tommy, respectively, appearing as cameos. The two beloved Power Rangers actors were not reprising their roles as Kimberly and Tommy, of course, instead appearing as unnamed Angel Grove citizens who were watching the heroes save the day. Johnson and Frank also had another scene in the film that ended up not making the cut.

Power Rangers (2017) was Amy Jo Johnson’s first appearance in a Power Rangers movie or show since 1997’s Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie. A year after the reboot, Jason David Frank would make his final appearance in a Power Rangers project – 2018’s Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel’s “Dimensions in Danger.” The original Green Ranger’s actor sadly pᴀssed away on November 19, 2022. None of the other original Power Rangers appeared in the reboot.

Why Zordon Couldn’t Come Back To His Body After Resurrecting Billy

Zordon Chooses Billy Over Himself

The most shocking twist in Power Rangers – as well as the biggest deviation from the show – was the reason Zordon ᴀssembled a new team and trained them. The former Red Ranger, whose mind and soul had been trapped inside the Morphin Grid since the Cenozoic Era, needed the Rangers to morph so that he could return to his body. Having the five Rangers successfully morph together was the only way for them to tap into the Morphin Grid, allowing Zordon to get out and return to his body.

When Jason found out, he felt betrayed and struggled to trust Zordon. However, the Power Rangers’ mentor redeemed himself toward the end of the movie after he chose to use the energy of the Morphin Grid to resurrect Billy. Zordon “wasted” his chance to come back by using that energy to resurrect Billy Cranston, which showed that, deep down, he was still a selfless leader who would always prioritize his team.

Why Power Rangers Never Got A Sequel

We Never Got Power Rangers 2

Power Rangers (2017) was an origin story at its core, with most of the film’s runtime being dedicated to establishing the characters and the rules of that universe. It is only by the very end of the film that the Power Rangers are a team who will now work with Zordon to protect Earth from all sorts of threats. This, combined with the Green Ranger set up from the credits, set the stage for the eventual Power Rangers 2 to be an even better movie. Unfortunately, the 2017 film bombed at the box office.

The Power Rangers reboot grossed $142 million at the box office on a $100 million budget, meaning any plans for a sequel were dropped. While the studio hoped that the film would lead to multiple installments, Power Rangers simply didn’t make enough money for this iteration to become a franchise. The Power Rangers brand has gone through many changes since then, and while the TV show continued normally until 2023, we don’t know when there will ever be another theatrical movie. When a new Power Rangers film does come out, it will not be a sequel to the 2017 movie.