Mighty Morphin Power Rangers type TV Show

Whether fans enjoyed Power/Rangers, the short film that put an adult spin on the classic franchise, one of the original Rangers was not pleased with the project.

Jason David Frank, the original Green Ranger, who also served as the White Ranger during Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, posted a video to his Facebook page to give his thoughts on the Joseph Kahn-, Adi Shankar-produced Power/Rangers film.

Frank explains that he was actually approached to be in the film but declined.

“I’m just a PG-13 guy,” Frank said. “The cuss words, the drugs, all this other stuff, it doesn’t fly with me.”

Power/Rangers took a dark approach to the source material, making the Rangers warriors in a bloody battle where the words “dark” and “gritty” might as well be written on every frame of the short. The film has, since its premiere earlier this week, been taken off of Vimeo, but remains on YouTube in a slightly toned-down fashion. But either version is a sober, serious take on the more colorful source material, and while many older fans were pleased with the direction it took, Frank saw the new tone as an issue.

Frank’s primary sticking point for why he wasn’t a fan of the film had to do with reconciling the mature direction of the piece and the franchise’s originas as a children’s show.

“The problem is that they’re still connected with adults and kids,” he said. “You can’t take a brand like this and reboot it so dark and gritty…you still have the kids that want to watch Power Rangers.”

Frank indictaes that he did enjoy the film on an “inner geek” level, but he thinks there’s a responsibility on the part of the people creating something with the brand to always keep the kids in mind.

He also went on to talk about another reason why he turned down a role in the short: He’s holding out for the real thing.

“Do I like the film? Here’s my thing. I want to be in the real movie,” Frank said.

He wants a “Saban-blessing approved” opportunity to bring Tommy to a film format. Frank even makes a plea to Lionsgate in the video to include Tommy in the upcoming big screen Power Rangers film in production at the studio, which is set to hit theaters in 2016.

Watch Frank’s full response below.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152742566121687