Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Star Isn’t In The Reunion Because They Hate The Costumes
Amy Jo Johnson, the original Pink Ranger, isn't part of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: Once and Always because of scheduling issues and not wanting to wear spandex again.
The Power Rangers reunion, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always, is set to premiere on Netflix next month, though not every colorfully dressed ranger will be returning to the team. The late actor Jason David Frank, who portrayed the series Green Ranger, will not be returning, though the film had wrapped production before his untimely passing last year at the age of 49. According to a write-up in The Hollywood Reporter, we also won’t be seeing our original Pink Ranger, Amy Jo Johnson, return to the team, as the actor states she no longer wishes to wear spandex in her middle age.
The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers star clapped back on Twitter with the frustrated response amid claims from fans online that she refused to return to the role for financial reasons. Amy Jo Johnson, who famously portrayed the Pink Ranger Kimberly Hart for over 130 episodes of the show’s original run, has gone on to directing in the past few years, most notably helming a 2022 episode of The CW’s Superman and Lois. According to IMDb, the Pink Ranger was Johnson’s first credited role, dating back to the show’s start in 1993.
In her own words, the Mighty Morphin Power Ranger alumnus has chosen not to return for her own personal reasons, though she did shed some light on what exactly turned her away from the Netflix revival. Citing scheduling concerns, costume frustrations, and simply aging out of the role and moving on, Amy Jo Johnson seems to disagree with the mission statement of Once and Always regarding her tenure as a Power Ranger. Despite her refusal to appear in the series, she has expressed excitement to see her former co-stars reprising their roles in the upcoming reboot, tweeting her support of the project from afar.
First airing in 1993 on Fox, the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was a cultural icon and essential viewing for any 90s kid craving corny action and cheesy dialogue. The show has been lauded for its themes and messages of teamwork and friendship and its diverse cast, with David Yost, Walter Jones, Barbara Goodson, and Karen Ashley all set to return for the reboot. Richard Steven Horvitz, who is best known for his voice work in a slew of iconic cartoons such as Invader Zim, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, and Angry Beavers, is also set to reprise his role as Alpha 5, the Rangers’ robotic assistant.
In addition to spawning a myriad of Halloween costumes across the globe, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers spawned several spin-off shows, including Dino Thunder, Beast Morphers, and Ninja Steel. Once and Always is set to be the latest resurgence in the Power Rangers pantheon as part of the 30-year anniversary of the original series air date. While it’s true that Amy Jo Johnson‘s reasons for not joining the special are nobody’s business but her own, fans will surely miss her presence in the revival.
