Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™ LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Yes, that's Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa in first image from the 'Power Rangers' reboot

All our '90s dreams have come true with the first image of Rita Repulsa.

power rangers elizabeth banks rita repulsa reboot '90s

Elizabeth Banks as the new, edgier Rita Repulsa. Source: Lionsgate, People

Is it 2017 yet because Elizabeth Banks is looking badass in this just released Power Rangers image of her as villainous Rita Repulsa and March 24 can't come fast enough?

Fans of the mighty morphin' gang were treated to a glimpse of the crime fighting gang earlier in the year when Lionsgate released an image of the crew out of their iconic suits. The new cast is made up of relatively unknowns including Becky G as Trini (Yellow Ranger), Dacre Montgomery as Jason Lee Scott (Red Ranger), Ludi Lin as Zack (Black Ranger), Naomi Scott as Kimberly Hart (Pink Ranger) and RJ Cyler as Billy (Blue Ranger).

power rangers elizabeth banks rita repulsa reboot '90s
Rock on. (Lionsgate/Entertainment Weekly) Source: Lionsgate

And while a lot has been said in recent weeks about whitewashing of films, it seems the casting of Elizabeth Banks in a role originally portrayed by a Japanese actor appears to have not ruffled any feathers. Yet. 

In a piece for Inverse, Eric Francisco has written in defence of Banks, "As a person of colour who regularly lashes out against white-washing, I feel qualified to say that this isn’t a case of white-washing... Unlike the Ancient One in Dr. Strange, or the specifically-designed cyborg Major Motoko Kusanagi in Ghost in the Shell, or even actual humans in the movie 21, Rita Repulsa is an alien mystic with no roots on Earth. She’s not an Asian alien witch, she’s just alien."

IT'S MORPHIN' TIME!

power rangers elizabeth banks rita repulsa reboot '90s
(Saban Entertainment) Source: Saban Entertainment

BRING. IT. ON.


2 min read

Published

By Mikey Nicholson

Source: Lionsgate


Share this with family and friends


Follow SBS

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our SBS podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch SBS On Demand

Over 11,000 hours

News, drama, documentaries, SBS Originals and more - for free.

Watch now