'Power Rangers' Is Leaving New Zealand After 20 Years

The announcement comes as the 30-year franchise faces an uncertain future

It’s official: Power Rangers is leaving New Zealand. The long-running popular action series has called the country home since 2002, when production moved there under Disney’s ownership. It had been done so the show could be produced cheaper than in the United States, where, bar some Mighty Morphin season 2 episodes, the first ten seasons were filmed.

The rumblings started on June 10, when in a Twitter conversation with user Chris (@GeekWithChris) about fan pessimism for the upcoming Cosmic Fury season, showrunner and executive producer Simon Bennett called the season his “last hurrah” with the show. Even in context it’s nothing on its own. Ann Austen and Doug Sloan only came back for the two seasons that began the New Zealand era, Ninja Storm and Dino Thunder. SPD was Greg Aronowitz’s only season as showrunner, and Jonathan Tzachor did the first four under Saban Brands, the Samurais and Megaforces. All to say, a showrunner’s tenure itself ending didn’t mean much. However, writer Becca Barnes, who joined during Dino Charge, announced her departure as well on June 13. It was the next day that The Illuminerdi’s Joe Deckelmeier revealed that he was told the week before that Cosmic Fury would be the final season filmed in New Zealand.

That fact hit the mainstream today, when New Zealand’s 1News reported it, getting confirmation from current franchise owners Hasbro, though they didn’t give a reason for why. It’s quite the shock to the film industry and considered a huge loss to the cast and crew. Many on-camera actors fluctuated between main and supporting role through the show’s many seasons produced there. That often included voicing monsters, and the voice actors were frequently kept around too. Campbell Cooley, who was part of it for 18 years, spent the last 7 straight voicing a main villain or henchman and expressed his gratitude on June 16.

Power Rangers’s presence has been acknowledged as providing a pathway for local actors and crew into the industry, such as for Ria Vandervis, who played Miratrix in Operation Overdrive. It has brought in more than $340 million into New Zealand’s economy. Two other Power Rangers alums were able to chime in about the departure. Sally Martin, who played Tori Hanson the Blue Wind Ninja Ranger on Ninja Storm, talking about what it was like in her place at the age she was on the show and how grueling the production schedule could be, yet still so fun. Teuila Blakely, who starred as Commander Shaw of Grid Battleforce on Beast Morphers, said "Between the crew and the cast, it's just this amazing feeling and bond, and I'm gutted to see it leave our shores production-wise". 1News also seemed to confirm she will be making a second guest appearance during Cosmic Fury.

As far as what Hasbro has said, it’s gone through a spokesperson stating "We are committed to keeping Power Rangers fresh by reimagining the brand and how we bring our entertainment content to life for our consumers. We've been in communication with teams to ensure they are set up for success in their next adventures. We've had the pleasure of working with such incredible and talented teams in New Zealand and plan to keep close for any future projects that may be a fit for Power Rangers or across any other of our future entertainment productions". The future of the franchise has been a bit slow to get going, as a new reboot film and young adult-aimed series from Jonathan Entwistle and Jenny Klein were announced several years ago and are both intended for Netflix. The movie has stalled, but the series is progressing. It’s unclear if the kid-aimed TV show will get beyond season 30 or if it’ll just be the reboot. A possible SAG-AFTRA strike would most definitely stall things further if the Writers Guild of America strike hasn’t already.

The 30th anniversary special, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always, premiered on Netflix in April, while Cosmic Fury, which at one point was going to be 20 episodes, will premiere all ten episodes this fall also on Netflix, where all of Mighty Morphin, Ninja Steel, Beast Morphers, and Dino Fury are also available to stream.

Sources: 1News, The Illuminerdi, Simon Bennett, Becca Barnes Campbell Cooley