Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. In Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, one of the original Rangers is killed protecting one of their teammates from their arch nemesis, robo-Rita Repulsa. After the tragic loss, a new Power Ranger steps up to take their place and continue the legacy. The Power Rangers, old and new, band together to defeat robo-Rita Repulsa thwarting her plans and avenging their fallen teammate.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always is directed by Charlie Haskell with a screenplay by Becca Barnes and Alwyn Dale. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always brings the cast of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series back together with Walter Emanuel Jones, David Yost, Steve Cardenas, Catherine Sutherland, Johnny Yong Bosch, Karan Ashley, Amy Jo Johnson, and Austin St. John reprising their roles. Charlie Kersh also joins the cast as Minh Kwan, the daughter of Trini Kwan.
Screen Rant spoke with original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers stars David Yost and Walter Emanuel Jones about the 30th anniversary special Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always. They shared memories of the early days of Power Rangers and step back into their roles as Zack and Billy. They also discussed honoring the legacy of their cast members, Thuy Trang and Jason David Frank, in the 30th-anniversary special.
David Yost & Walter Emanuel Jones Talk Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always
Screen Rant: First of all, the 30th anniversary of Power Rangers is phenomenal. This is everything I wanted from this Netflix event. Did you guys ever think that you would be sitting here talking about a show that had such cultural relevance and was groundbreaking one of the longest-running television series of all time 30 years later?
Walter Emanuel Jones: I don’t think at that time, I figured maybe 10 years later nobody will be thinking about it. But wow, here we are 30 years later, it’s crazy. It is crazy because I’m only 29. I don’t know how that worked.
I was just going to say both of you guys look younger than me, and I was watching you guys as a child.
Walter Emanuel Jones: Thank you, brother. Thank you.
David Yost: You’re you’re way too kind. But hey, personally, there’s no way we could have predicted number one back in the nineties how popular the show would become then. It was like we filmed almost the entire first season before it even started airing, so we had no real gauge of what was going to happen. Then once it started airing, it took off like fire. Not only in the United States but around the world, it became the number one kid show and here we are 30 years later.
It’s so crazy but humbling and obviously neither of us would change it for the world, I don’t think. It’s such an honor and I’m really glad that we got to film this 30th anniversary special. I think it brings you guys, the people that were kids, and it brings it into a more adult format. It deals with more real world experiences, and so but it has a little bit of the hints to the old stuff. I’m super excited for people to see it and I just hope they really embrace it the way that you’re embracing it.
Honestly, I feel like this is the perfect blend for a long-time fan like myself, but also we have an eight-year-old who loves Power Rangers just as much, so this is a great generational experience. Can you share any fond memories from when you guys worked together some 30 years ago?
Walter Emanuel Jones: We have lots to think of, lots of moments that were amazing. Every time I get this question, because we do a lot of comic-cons and we get questions from the fans like this, I always try to find something else that was different because there were so many amazing moments. One of the things that I remember is our first trip out of the state, we went to New York to go do an appearance at FAO Schwarz.
I remember us all gathering and sitting in the giant rocking chair together and being on the plane and falling asleep. I think I have pictures of everybody knocked out, which I’ve never shown. But we took walks in the snow and Central Park and made snowmen and snow angels. That was just one of those moments that was out of the show, but together as a family and it was amazing, it was just one of them.
David Yost: That actually is a great memory, I do remember that as well. That was a really fun time because for me that was the first time I ever got to go to New York and really experienced New York. New York is such an amazing city, so to be these young actors on this show and the hype is just starting to build and we got to go to FAO Schwarz, but we also did some press that day. I think we went to a couple schools and I don’t know, we did a ribbon cutting ceremony somewhere. I don’t know, it was all kinds of craziness, so that was cool.
But just hearing you talk about Kenneth Hahn Park, we filmed most of… Well, if not all of the first season in Kenneth Hahn Park. That was always such a cool experience because people didn’t really know what Power Rangers was yet because we hadn’t started airings. You’d see people trickle in and come watch and be like, “What is this?” Because there’s Putties running around and then there’s costumed Power Rangers, so people didn’t really understand.
I don’t even think we as actors understood what the show was at that point, but people didn’t really understand what we were doing. But I’m certain there’s certain people that were mad because they could have had the opportunity to come up and meet us, but they didn’t know what it was and so they didn’t care. But I love that you tried to come and find us.
I tried, man. I really tried hard. We used to go to that park all the time as kids.
David Yost: It’s a great park.
It’s fantastic. I still go hiking to this day there.
Walter Emanuel Jones: I took my kids there recently. I was like, “We filmed right here, around this fountain. I had a fight right here,” going back through history.
David, the last time you were on the show as Power Ranger Zeo, what was it like to portray Billy again? Was it slipping into a glove, and did it feel just as easy to put that character back on?
David Yost: Well, the writers like to do what the writers like to do, and for Billy that’s like, “Hey, let’s give him a lot of words and a lot of big lines that don’t really make sense.” Yes, in that sense it was putting on a glove. I would be like, “What am I talking about again?” It wasn’t always easy as an older person because I start losing my memory a little quicker.
But it was a lot of fun to get to portray Billy and obviously just to know that Billy wasn’t on a Aquitar all these years is great for me as a character because I just never thought Billy would be doing that. He’s more of a space cowboy and he certainly has been out exploring, but to know that he’s been back to Earth obviously, and he created Cranston Technologies, and within Cranston Technologies he built this command center. He’s got Alpha and all that great stuff, so I was really excited to get to play my character again.
I love that he didn’t just stay on Aquitar; he was traveling around and creating things. Walter, the last time that you were on the show was for Forever Red, but you did the voice of one of the Machine Empire, General Garrick, I believe. What was it like actually stepping back into the role of Zack?
Walter Emanuel Jones: It was amazing. Zack obviously is a character that’s been renowned for the beginning of the show as a character that was created and broke ground as the first Black superhero on live action TV. The only character to have his own martial art form. It was great to be able to come back to that and let the fans see Zack again and let them know that he was alive and well and still responsible, I guess working as a congressman, still working to help people in the community.
But what I really like is that what Boom Comics did in having Zack go off and become the Omega Ranger and Galactic Ranger that’s traveling through the dimensions to help other rangers. I think that is definitely something that Zack would want to do. He’s a soldier, so staying within the grind is something I think I would love for fans to see more of.
David, you talked about Billy’s evolution from where he was to where he has been. Is that where you picture the character, where we see him in Once & Always?
David Yost: In theory, yes, I can see that as Billy. But I always envision Billy more of being like a Captain Kirk, he’s got his own spaceship and he’s a captain. He’s out traveling the universe, discovering new planets and aliens and all that stuff. I think that’s what Billy spends most of his time doing. But obviously, there’s no reason why he wouldn’t be able to come back to Earth and be involved in Cranston tech and what’s going on planet Earth.
Obviously, finding in Once & Always we find out that the original Power Rangers team has always been a Power Rangers team, they’ve still always been Power Rangers. I think that’s exciting to know anytime there’s a call to action, that core six has always been stepping up to the plate. [inaudible 00:09:02].
Not only did you guys return, but Jackie Marchand also returned as a story consultant for Once & Always. Did you guys get a chance to talk to her and collaborate with her at all about the story?
David Yost: I personally didn’t get to talk to her, but I feel responsible for her being involved because there was a lot of discretion discussion about the scripts and one of the first scripts we got, I was like, “I don’t know about that.” They were like, “Well, maybe we should bring in one of these writers.” They named off these names and I said, “Jackie. Yes, bring Jackie.” I take responsibility for her being involved, but she obviously has longevity with the franchise and knows it in and out, and so I really thought that she would step up to the plate and really help out in a lot of ways.
Absolutely paid off. Was there any hesitation to return for Once & Always with the initial pitch and what ultimately had you guys agreeing to come back to this?
Walter Emanuel Jones: Well, coming back has always been something I wanted to do, but unfortunately the show had been nonunion. The fact that this was finally a union show made it easy for me to be like, “Yes, I want to come back. I need my character to be explained, they need to know what Zack’s been doing and where he is at.” I was really happy with the script and the way that he took on this protective role as a guardian of Thuy’s daughter, so I love that aspect of Zack’s character.
I want to ask about Charlie Kersh because she is fantastic in this series and does such an incredible job as Minh. What did she bring to the role that wasn’t necessarily on the page, David?
David Yost: Well, for me it was interesting to watch her because she really did embody Trini in a lot of ways. I could really tell that she went and she researched, she watched all the original episodes and really focused on Trini and Thuy as an actress. I just thought it was really neat to watch her sort of take on some of the traits in maybe some ways and just knowing that Charlie is this amazing martial artist and we really get to see that in this special.
She really knocks it out of the park I think in so many ways as a martial artist, but also as a talented actress. She was so prepared all the time and she really took it serious. She’s only 16 years old and I’m really happy for her and I’m really proud of her. I’m sure it might have felt a little weird or intimidating to come work with some guys that are old enough to be her dads. What is that like as a 16-year-old kid? But she did such an amazing job and I couldn’t be happier for her.
Also, the way that she played off the both of you where she says a line to you, David, and you look away and that remorse that your character has? Incredible job. Walter, can you talk to me about working with Charlie and getting the emotional tone right for this? Because like you said, this is for adults like me, but kids are going to be able to relate to this as well.
Walter Emanuel Jones: It’s funny because as an actor you get on set with someone you don’t know and you have to build this relationship. I think right away we started playing and toying with each other to try to find this camaraderie. In the command center, when we had this speech where I’m talking to her and I could feel her as a young woman. I definitely have a male energy that’s older than her, and I wanted to connect with her and make it definitely make her feel like I was a parent.
I had one moment where actually we connected heads and I thought that was a moment that was won. Do you know what I mean? That was a moment that was earned where I knew she felt comfortable with me as this guardian and that we had that an affection like, “Okay, I have trust in this moment and in this person and this character.” That was something we didn’t have a long time to develop, but I was happy we were able to get to that.
Walter, since we’re talking about this series and something you made famous was Hip Hop Kido and you nailed it. It almost felt like you’ve been doing Hip Hop Kido every single day because it looks so smooth. Was that easy for you to just ease back into?
Walter Emanuel Jones: It took some planning and some rehearsal, but I did some training before I went, I was in the gym, I was working on my kicks, I was working on my punches, my fluidity. I can’t say that it didn’t hurt some, but I’m capable of doing a lot of things that I was able to do before. I still got skills. My fluidity is uncommon.
I guess I’ve been dancing most of my life and so dancing and martial arts fall through the same category. Going from one move to the next move just comes natural to me, so I was really happy to be able to show that I still have a skill set and that I was able to do the stuff I do.
David Yost: It was super, super impressive.
Just watching it, I’m telling you, goosebumps. I got goosebumps watching that.
Walter Emanuel Jones: I’m going to be a 60-year-old man doing back flips.
I couldn’t do that, I’d break a hip at this point. The production on this was phenomenal. The way that they recreated Ernie’s Juice Bar was definitely spot on. David, walking onto that set, did you get a sense of nostalgia and did it feel a little surreal to you?
David Yost: In a lot of ways it did. In honesty, it was a little bit smaller than what we worked on before, but just to know that they took the time to build that and to make it look as authentic as possible was pretty awesome. But I have one picture, I haven’t really shared it with Walter yet. But I have a picture of Walter in the juice bar hiding around a corner, and it just makes me laugh every time I see it because when I see that picture, it really brings that back to me.
I really feel the nostalgia because it just felt like what we used to be like when we were way back in our twenties. It was a really cool set to be a part of that, to go back onto that and some of the other things that they did, like Rita’s Moon Palace and obviously the command center to a degree, it was really cool to be on all those sets.
Towards the end of the special, I started tearing up because there’s a great tribute that happens at the end of this. I just was curious if you guys would be willing to share any stories about Thuy and JDF? Simply, they were phenomenal as rangers, but they were great people as well. I never had a chance to meet Thuy, I always wanted to. But can you share any stories about them?
Walter Emanuel Jones: After we left Rangers, Thuy, Austin and myself did separate videos. Not all of them hit the market, but you can find them on YouTube now. But I did a hip hop video for kids and Austin and Thuy came and appeared in my video, so I was teaching these kids hip hop on the set. We built a set and I was teaching them hip hop, it was an instructional video.
Thuy came as a friend, as a guest, and she sat with the kids and she did the splits and they cheered for her. But I just remember how kindhearted she was and how easy it was to smile when you were around her because she made everybody feel warm and comforted and she had just such a kind spirit.
How about yourself, David?
David Yost: Obviously I think for Walter and I and Amy, Joe and Austin, it’s bittersweet that we’ve lost two of our original cast members and they both were such amazing people in their own right. Thuy obviously was super sweet and she had an infectious laugh. There’s so many scenes that I can see in my head when we were filming the original series that just make me laugh because of Thuy and just the person that she was. I always tell people I owe Thuy a lot because she taught me how to get rid of shine from my forehead. That’s always a big thing as an actor, so I appreciate that.
Obviously, with Jason David Frank, such a talented martial artist. He was one of my best friends and we had this friendship that was 30 years in the making. We had our ups and downs, as friends do. But he’s always had my heart and just an amazing guy, funny. I would say the jokester or prankster out of all of us and always the one creating havoc. The one that would probably get other people in trouble when it was really him that did it. He was a lot of fun and I miss them both greatly.
I really wish Thuy could have been with us through all these years to experience the fandom and experience what an impact she has had on so many people’s lives. I’m glad that at the end of the special, they do show that video and it does honor them both. I think it couldn’t be a more appropriate way to honor the two of them.
It’s so touching.
Walter Emanuel Jones: The fact that the script originally was about honoring Thuy to then also be able to honor Jason Frank is such a relief because it is important. It’s equally as important to honor him because he had such an impact on the series and was such an amazing motivational person and affected the lives of so many people in a positive way that I was really happy that we were able to honor them both.
Absolutely. Well said both of you. Look, one of the last questions I have for you guys is I love seeing you guys on screen, you guys look great in Spandex. Absolutely phenomenal. Are you guys done with Billy and Zack’s adventures in Power Rangers?
Walter Emanuel Jones: I think there’s a lot more stories to be told.
I like that. How about you, David?
David Yost: I hope there’s a lot more stories to be told, the way that this all came about is because I was originally pitching my limited series, Quantum Continuum to Hasbro. It got stopped because of a legal reason for a little while, but maybe it’ll get picked up in a few years, but we’ll see. But I certainly think because our fan base is adults now and I think they’re really going to enjoy the special, that they will hopefully want to see more. Hopefully we can keep showing what this franchise is truly capable of because it’s capable of so much. I just don’t feel like it’s really been tapped properly and just with a little bit more guidance from us and finessing, I think this thing could really be something special.
When I actually read the script you put out on Twitter, Quantum Continuum, I really loved it. Last question, Simon Bennett was the executive producer of Once & Always. Did you guys get a chance to talk to him and collaborate with him at all? If so, what do you think he brings to the franchise that wasn’t there before?
David Yost: Well, we certainly collaborated with him and the entire writing team and the production team over there. Because in a lot of ways, they were counting on Walter and I to sort of fill in some gaps because we were there. I would often be like, “No, you can’t do that. It’s got to be like this.” I think they got frustrated with me a few times because I was pretty adamant about what we could and could not do. Like the whole proxy coin thing, I really had to say, “You guys, you got to explain this. We have to figure out a way to explain why this is happening.”
I know that came about and Simon was a good guy. He started off obviously as a director of a few seasons, many seasons of Power Rangers and has stepped into the executive producer role. He gets it and he brings where the Power Ranger franchise is now and we bring where we were back then. We melded our two systems together in the best way possible. He was certainly a crucial element and obviously a huge help to all of us for this special.
About Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always
After the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers tragically lose one of their own, a young hero steps into their role, continuing the legacy of the slain hero. The Power Rangers will work together to take down their arch enemy, robo-Rita Repulsa, after she kills one of their own.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always is available now on Netflix.
