‘Power Rangers’ Writer Regrets Early Color-Coded Casting Choices

It’s true; the ”Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” series had a casting problem from day one, and it only took 30+ years for a key creative to admit it. In a recent episode of the “Hollywood Demons” docu-series by Investigation Discovery titled “Dark Side of the Power Rangers,” longtime writer and producer Tony Oliver spoke candidly about the show’s uncomfortable early decisions; specifically, linking Ranger suit colors to the actors’ racial identities. It was the kind of choice that makes you go, “Wait, what were they thinking?” The answer: they weren’t.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Oliver explains in the documentary episode, “None of us are thinking stereotypes,” referencing how Walter Emanuel Jones, a Black actor, was cast as Zack Taylor/ the first Black Ranger, and Thuy Trang, an Asian actor, became Trini Kwan/ the first Yellow Ranger for the first two seasons of the series back in 1993. “It was such a mistake,” he added, admitting that it wasn’t until “my assistant who pointed it out in a meeting one day” that the team even realized the implications.

A 90s Hit With a Blind Spot

To be fair, “Power Rangers” wasn’t exactly known for subtle storytelling (Rita Repulsa, anyone?) It was campy, colorful, and full of giant robot fights. But even with all the chaos, the cast stood out—in a good way. The problem? For a show that was literally built on teamwork and diversity, the early color assignments were a pretty glaring contradiction.

The wildest part? The actors figured it out from the get-go. Stunt coordinator Jeff Pruitt speaks in the documentary about how the cast used to joke about it; and a behind the scenes clip even shows Jones saying, “My name’s Walter Jones, I play Zack. I’m Black, and I play the Black Ranger — go figure.” 

It’s obvious that the showrunners were clueless in the beginning and were not trying to play into stereotypes, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. And let’s be real, a kid might not notice the symbolism, but adults (especially now) absolutely do.

Still, the fact that Tony Oliver is owning up to it now feels like a solid, if long-overdue, step. Mistakes happen. What matters is acknowledging them and doing better in the future.

Looking Back With Clearer Eyes

Between early cast pay disputes, a scrapped reboot, and now this bit of hindsight, the “Power Rangers” legacy is a complicated one. For many, the show is and will always be pure nostalgic gold. For others, especially fans from marginalized backgrounds, it’s also a reminder of how easily stereotypes can slip through the cracks when no one’s paying attention. Oliver’s comments are a sign that even shows with good intentions aren’t immune to missteps.

But here’s the good news: the franchise has grown. The later seasons of ”Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” ditched the color-to-ethnicity “coincidence” as the cast changed and recent versions of “Power Rangers” have leaned harder into diverse, well-rounded characters. That’s what moving forward looks like.

So yeah, it took a few decades, but at least someone’s finally saying it out loud. 

How You Can Watch The Series Today

Fans of “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” can relive all the drama of this iconic series on Netflix, as well as other iterations of the show like “Power Rangers: Super Ninja Steel” and “Power Rangers: Dino Fury,” as well as the “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always” 2023 reunion film (trailer below).