Lionsgate has given us our first look at Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa, the dastardly nemesis of Zordon and his Power Rangers in the upcoming 2017 film. Wow! I immediately had a love/hate reaction to this portrayal. First off, how can you not admire the costume and make up work here? This is a complete transformation by Elizabeth Banks, even more so than her role as Effie Trinket in the Hunger Games films. I’m sure like myself, many Mighty Morphin Power Rangers fans were just as much disappointed and as surprised by this image. While you can’t argue with the quality here, the complete lack of reverence for the original Rita costume design in exchange for a character that looks a better fit to serve as the leader of Marvel’s Serpent Society rather than conquer earth, leaves me really questioning the direction of this franchise.
Power Rangers arrives in theater in March 2017
(Source: People and Entertainment Weekly)
Please let us know what you think of this modern incarnation of Rita Repulsa in the comments below or tweet me @thereelbradbell.