Don't Expect Any Cool Throwback Cameos in Next Year's 'Power Rangers' Reboot

Walter Jones, star of the classic 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers' series, said none of the OG rangers got the call about the reboot.

September 6, 2016

Not Available Lead — Image via Complex Original
Complex Original

A cool way for reboots to make a polite nod at the OG legends is to enlist them for a hilarious, possibly even meta cameo. That's just how reboots work. However, for the forthcoming Power Rangers reboot that features some admittedly puzzling costume choices, fans should expect nothing of the sort. That's the word according to Walter Jones, aka Zack the Black Ranger from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

During a recent chat with the Audibly Exquisite podcast team, Jones revealed that none of the original cast members have been contacted about the reboot. "Unfortunately we were not invited to be part of the film," Jones said, as first spotted byEntertainment Weekly. "Which is confusing to me, but I'm excited about the film nevertheless."

On the surface, that sounds like a detrimentally lame decision when considering just how seriously Power Rangers fans take this franchise. But the lack of throwback cameos makes perfect sense when viewed within the context of director Dean Israelite (Project Almanac)'s vision.

Way back in June 2015, Israelite dropped some details to IGN about his thoughts on reviving the popular franchise for a modern audience. "I read the script and was really surprised by it and thought there was a really cool, contemporary, mature but still playful, buoyant and fun take on the material, and was updated in a really interesting way," Israelite said. "It had this wonderful character that's essential to going on a fantastic adventure. I was instantly drawn to it."

Sounds promising. But maybe, just maybe, Israelite can borrow a page or 2 from this Power Rangers-inspired short film that's refreshingly NSFW:

Power Rangers revives the franchise starting Mar. 24, 2017.