When Netflix’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Again special was announced in January, many were surprised that the original pink Power Ranger, Amy Jo Johnson, wasn’t part of the cast.
The 52-year-old actress revealed shortly after the special was announced that she “never said no” to the special, adding: “I just didn’t say yes to what was offered.”
Many speculated that he refused to work on the series because he was not offered enough money to return, though he made his reasons clear, to some extent, in two new tweets he sent on Sunday.
“Please stop saying I didn’t do the meeting for money. It’s just not true,” Johnson began.
‘Maybe I just didn’t want to wear spandex in my 50s or couldn’t go to New Zealand for a month. Or none of your beeswax,” she added.
Amy explains: When Netflix’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Again special was announced in January, many were surprised that the original Pink Power Ranger, Amy Jo Johnson, wasn’t part of the cast.
No: The 52-year-old actress revealed shortly after the special was announced that she “never said no” to the special, adding: “I just didn’t say yes to what was offered.”
The actress went on to say that her co-star Jason David Frank, who played Tommy Oliver, the original Green Ranger, also did not appear in the special.
‘JDF and I decided against it for our own reasons. They filmed before he passed away,” he said, noting the actor’s death at age 49 in November.
She added in another tweet: “So excited to see my friends @DavidYost and @WalterEJones rock it!!” with the hashtag #PowerRangers.
In January, after the special was first announced, Johnson tweeted: “For the record, I’ve never said no… I just didn’t say yes to what’s on offer.” But there are other fun things in store! I look forward to seeing my friends kick ass! #PowerRangers30′
The special brings back several stars from the original series, which only lasted three seasons but spawned a massive franchise, including David Yost (Blue Ranger/Billy Cranston), Walter E. Jones (Black Ranger/Zack Taylor) and Barbara Goodson ( Rita Repulsa).
Also returning are Catherine Sutherland (Kat Hillard/second Pink Ranger, Steve Cardenas, (Rocky DeSantos/second Red Ranger), Karan Ashley (Aisha Campbell/second Yellow Ranger) and Johnny Yong Bosch (Adam Park/second Black Ranger), although Amy Jo Johnson, the original Pink Ranger, revealed that she turned down his offer to return.
The new special will find all of these characters coming together as they battle Rita Repulsa after discovering that she killed Trini Kwan, the original Yellow Ranger (Thuy Trang, who died in 2001 at just 27 years old after a horrific car accident).
The special will also feature Catherine Sutherland, who played second Pink Ranger Katherine Hillard, with the actress adding: “There are so many little Easter eggs.” I just think it will give the fans everything they want.
Green: The actress went on to say that her co-star Jason David Frank (middle in white), who played Tommy Oliver, the original Green Ranger, also didn’t appear in the special.
Others: Catherine Sutherland (Kat Hillard/second Pink Ranger, Steve Cardenas, (Rocky DeSantos/second Red Ranger), Karan Ashley (Aisha Campbell/second Yellow Ranger) and Johnny Yong Bosch (Adam Park/second Black Ranger) also return, though Amy Jo Johnson, the original Pink Ranger, revealed that she turned down his offer to return
It was certainly a happy reunion for David Yost and Walter Jones, who originated the roles of Blue Ranger Billy Cranston and Black Ranger Zack Taylor.
“It’s been really exciting shooting a 30-year anniversary special,” Yost, 54, gushed.
“Just starting to work with Walter, obviously, we have a long history together… It’s a very different version of what we’ve done before, but a lot of the same elements are there.”
But it was the first time that Steve Cárdenas, who played second Red Ranger Rocky DeSantos, had worked with the 52-year-old Jones.
“We are a family of Rangers, so to finally be on a set with them was very interesting,” Cardenas said.
Also returning for the Netflix special are Karan Ashley (the second Yellow Ranger), Johnny Yong Bosch (the second Black Ranger), Barbara Goodson (the voice of Rita Repulsa) and Richard Horvitz (the voice of Alpha).
“The Power Rangers come face to face with a familiar threat from the past,” the tagline read.
Johnson hasn’t acted since 2019’s The Has Been, which he also directed, and he also recently directed an episode of Superman & Lois for The CW.
Rangers: “We’re a Ranger family, so finally being on a set with them was really interesting,” Cardenas said.
Actress and Director: Johnson hasn’t acted since 2019’s The Has Been, which she also directed, and she also recently directed an episode of Superman & Lois for The CW.