For the 30th anniversary of the series cult “Power Rangers” it is “Power Rangers: Once & Always” on Netflix. But while fans online are celebrating the trailer, the absence of Amy Jo Johnson has been met with much criticism. Now the actress has responded.
“Power Rangers: Once & Always” excites the numerous fans of the cult brand so much because the trailer already makes it obvious that Netflix is not even trying to somehow reinvent the proven concept. No! As much as possible is as close to the original as possible – including trashy costumes, a little clumsy-looking fight interludes and, above all, the return of numerous original stars.
David Yost, who already embodied Billy Cranston alias the Blue Ranger, and Walter Jones alias Zack Taylor, the Black Ranger, are back. Steve Cardenas, Karan Ashley, Johnny Yong Bosch and Catherine Sutherland are also familiar from the series and slip back into their Power Rangers costumes. But there are also stars missing…
AMY JO JOHNSON: “MAYBE I DIDN’T WANT TO WEAR TIGHT TIGHTS AT 50”
Notably, Amy Jo Johnson, who played “Pink Ranger” Kimberly Hart in the original “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” series from 1993 to 1995, is not involved in the remake – though she did appear in later projects in the series and even made a cameo appearance in the fan-hated 2017 Hollywood remake “Power Rangers”.
The fact that Johnson, as well as Jason David Frank (the Green Ranger), who died in November 2022, were in that remake but are now absent from the sequel to the original quickly led to a narrative on social media that went viral:
Both were accused of turning it down for the money. They had demanded too much from Netflix, which the budget for the project, which was ultimately quite small despite the streaming service’s backing, would not have allowed. Johnson, however, now clearly contradicted this narrative:
Please stop saying I didn’t do reunion because of money Simply not true. Maybe I just didn’t want to wear spandex in my 50s or couldn’t go to NZ for a month.Or none of ur beeswax JDF & I both chose not to for our own reasons. They filmed before he passed. PowerRangers
– Amy Jo Johnson (@_amyjojohnson) March 26, 2023
She and Frank would have decided against the reunion for their own reasons. She also cites a few reasons: “Maybe I didn’t want to wear tight tights when I was 50,” she says, alluding to the famous costumes. “Or maybe I couldn’t go to New Zealand for a month,” she refers to the filming far from her home.
In the end, however, she also makes it clear that it is none of people’s business why the actress, who is now also a director and writer, decided against a project. She is nevertheless looking forward to the film and especially the appearances of her friends David Yost and Walter Jones, as she makes clear in another tweet.
Excited to see my pals @David_Yost & @Walterejones rock it though!!! PowerRangers
– Amy Jo Johnson (@_amyjojohnson) March 26, 2023
Many fans now seem to have sympathy for the actress in this, as shown by many approving messages under her tweet and meanwhile also over 25,000 likes for her statement.
Until you can stream “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always”, you will have to wait a little longer. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always” will be available on Netflix from 19 April 2023.
