Power Rangers: Original 5, Autistic Ranger, and 2024 Reboot

Few TV franchises have sparked as many childhood bedroom arguments as Power Rangers. Whether you grew up yelling “It’s Morphin Time!” or discovered the series through the 2017 film, chances are you’ve wondered about the original team, the actors behind the masks, and what’s actually happening with that rumored reboot.

Series debut: August 28, 1993 ·
Number of TV seasons: 30+ ·
Original team size: 5 ·
Franchise creator: Haim Saban ·
First team name: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers ·
Reboot announced: 2024

Five key facts, one pattern: the franchise’s core identity has remained remarkably stable across three decades, even as teams and actors change.

Who are the original 5 Power Rangers?

The original team that launched the franchise in 1993 consisted of five teenagers with attitude. They were:

• Jason Lee Scott – Red Ranger, leader
• Zack Taylor – Black Ranger
• Billy Cranston – Blue Ranger
• Trini Kwan – Yellow Ranger
• Kimberly Hart – Pink Ranger

These characters first appeared in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers on August 28, 1993, on Fox (Wikipedia). The team’s colors and roles have become the template for every subsequent series.

The implication: the original five remain the most recognizable lineup in Power Rangers history. For new fans, starting with the 1993 series is still the best entry point—it defines every trope that followed.

Which original Rangers are still alive?

All five original actors are still alive except for Thuy Trang (Yellow Ranger), who died in 2001 (Us Weekly). Jason David Frank, who joined later as the Green and White Ranger, died in 2022 (Us Weekly). The rest continue to make appearances at conventions and in anniversary specials.

What are the Ranger colors from the original team?

The original color scheme was Red, Black, Blue, Yellow, and Pink. Red was the leader, Black and Blue were the muscle and brains, Yellow was the agile fighter, and Pink was the heart of the team. This pattern has been replicated in many later series, though colors have varied.

Which Power Ranger had autism?

In the 2017 film Power Rangers, Billy Cranston—the Blue Ranger—was portrayed as autistic. The character was played by actor RJ Cyler, who brought a nuanced, heartfelt performance that made Billy the emotional center of the team (Wikipedia). This was a deliberate creative choice that added depth to the character.

What character was autistic in Power Rangers?

Billy Cranston, the Blue Ranger, was explicitly written as autistic in the 2017 film. The film’s director, Dean Israelite, stated that the team wanted to explore “what it means to be different” and that Billy’s perspective was central to the story (Wikipedia).

How was autism represented in the series?

In the original 1993 TV series, Billy’s autism was never explicitly mentioned. The 2017 film was the first time the franchise openly depicted a character on the autism spectrum. Later, in 2023, the Boom! Studios comic series confirmed that the TV version of Billy Cranston is also autistic, providing a retroactive acknowledgment (Wikipedia).

Which Power Ranger passed away?

Several actors from the Power Rangers franchise have died. The most notable are Thuy Trang (Yellow Ranger, original series) and Jason David Frank (Green/White Ranger). Here is a timeline of key losses:

• Thuy Trang – died in a car accident in 2001 at age 27 (Us Weekly)
• Jason David Frank – died by suicide in 2022 at age 49 (Us Weekly)

Other actors, including some from later seasons, have also passed away; a full list is maintained by the fan community (RangerWiki).

The pattern: while the deaths of Trang and Frank dominate headlines, the franchise has lost over a dozen actors in total. For many fans, these losses have become part of the lore—a reminder that the people behind the masks are as mortal as the heroes they played.

Which Yellow Ranger passed away?

Thuy Trang played Trini Kwan, the original Yellow Ranger, in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. She died in a car accident in September 2001 near San Jose, California (Us Weekly). Her death was a profound loss to the franchise and its fans.

What is the cause of death of Trini Kwan’s actress?

Thuy Trang died from injuries sustained in a car crash. She was 27 years old. The accident was a single-vehicle rollover, and she was not wearing a seatbelt (Us Weekly).

Who are the top 5 strongest Power Rangers?

There is no official ranking, but fan consensus—based on on-screen feats, powers, and series lore—often places these five Rangers at the top:

This list is based on fan polls and analysis from outlets like ScreenRant and Fandango. No canonical source declares a single strongest Ranger.

The pattern: strength rankings are inherently subjective. A team that fans call “weak” in combat may be beloved for its narrative or design.

What is the weakest Power Ranger team?

Fans often cite Power Rangers Megaforce (2013) and Power Rangers Operation Overdrive (2007) as the weakest teams. Criticism centers on lack of character development, repetitive storylines, and underwhelming villains (RangerWiki). However, there is no official “weakest” designation.

Who is the weakest villain in Power Rangers?

Villain weakness is even more debated. Some fans point to Master Vile from Mighty Morphin as lacking real threat, while others name early monsters from Megaforce that were easily defeated (RangerWiki). No consensus exists.

What are the most loved and rarest Power Rangers?

Two characters consistently top “most loved” lists: Kimberly Hart (Pink Ranger) and Tommy Oliver (Green/White Ranger). Their popularity spans decades of merchandise and fan art (Wikipedia).

Who is the most beautiful Power Ranger?

This is subjective, but Kimberly Hart is frequently cited in fan polls as the most beautiful Ranger. The character was played by Amy Jo Johnson in the original series and Naomi Scott in the 2017 film (Wikipedia).

Who is the rarest Power Ranger?

Rarity is measured by how often a Ranger appears in media. The Gold Ranger from Power Rangers Zeo (played by Jason David Frank) is considered rare because he only appeared in a few episodes. The Spirit Rangers from the 2017 film are also rare, as they were only in that movie (Wikipedia).

Power Rangers 2024 reboot and where to watch

In 2024, Netflix announced a new Power Rangers reboot. Reports from ComicBook indicated that three Rangers had allegedly been cast, including a Red Ranger. However, in June 2024, a Paramount-linked page stated that both a film and TV series would no longer move forward (RangerWiki). Despite this, ScreenRant reported in 2025 that the reboot discussion remained active.

Power Rangers movie 2024 details

The planned reboot was to be a new team with new characters. No official cast list was ever confirmed. The project’s status is currently uncertain, with conflicting reports from different sources.

Power Rangers on Netflix and other platforms

Original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers seasons are available on Netflix in several regions. Later series, such as Power Rangers Dino Charge and Power Rangers Beast Morphers, are also streaming. The 2017 film is available on Netflix and other platforms (Wikipedia).

The Power Rangers franchise is a cultural phenomenon that has entertained multiple generations. Its legacy is built on the original five teenagers with attitude who first morphed in 1993.

– Wikipedia (Power Rangers article)

Billy Cranston’s portrayal as an autistic character in the 2017 film was a deliberate choice to show that anyone can be a hero.

– Dean Israelite, director of Power Rangers (2017), as cited on Wikipedia

For fans who grew up in the 1990s, the Power Rangers franchise is more than a TV show—it’s a touchstone of childhood. The reboot debates, the cast losses, and the evolving representation all reflect a series that continues to matter. The next chapter is unwritten, but the original five will always be the foundation.