Based on a new report from Deadline, Disney+ is no longer moving forward with its planned live-action Power Rangers series, ending the project before it could enter production. The series had been in development at the streamer for roughly year and a half, with Percy Jackson and the Olympians executive producers and showrunners Jonathan E. Steinberg (Black Sails, The Old Man) and Dan Shotz (See, Black Sails) attached to write and executive produce, with 20th Television serving as the studio.
According to Deadline, the decision was driven more by business and budget concerns than creative problems. Producing high-end live-action superhero series like Power Rangers would require a major investment, while neither Disney+ nor 20th Television owns the property. Hasbro currently controls the Power Rangers brand.
The cancellation marks another unsuccessful attempt to launch a new Power Rangers television series. As mxdwn previously reported, Netflix had its own Power Rangers series in development before deciding not to move forward in 2024.
That version had Jenny Klein (Daisy Jones & The Six, Supernatural) attached as showrunner alongside Jonathan Entwistle (I Am Not Okay With This, The End of the F**ing World*). Following Netflix’s decision, Hasbro was looking for a new creative direction and another partner for the franchise.
The earlier coverage also traced Netflix’s plans back to 2020, when Entwistle was brought aboard to oversee potential film and television projects envisioned as part of a larger Power Rangers universe. Klein later joined the television side of those plans before Netflix ultimately abandoned the project.
Disney+ has increasingly shown interest in developing projects based on outside intellectual property despite initially building much of its service around Disney-owned brands. Deadline points to Ella Enchanted and Casper television projects as recent examples. However, the costs involved with Power Rangers appear to have made that particular partnership less attractive.
Steinberg and Shotz remain busy at Disney. The pair are finishing season three of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which premieres Nov. 20, while developing additional projects under their overall deal with 20th Television.
For Power Rangers, Disney+ now joins Netflix as another major streaming service that explored a new live-action series without ultimately bringing it to the screen.