New Power Rangers image reveals Rita Repulsa's big green weapon

The upcoming Power Rangers movie isn't so much an adaptation of the beloved '90s property, as something that's sorta-kinda influenced by it. A bit. Everything we've seen of it so far suggests it's definitely its own creation. The Rangers' suits are more in line with something cooked up by Tony Stark, the trailer makes the film look like Chronicle-lite and the villains? Well, they're barely recognisable.  

This latest photo reveals the Rangers' verdant foe, decked out in her glitzy get-up and wielding a rather large staff:  

See more

That looks like it's about to take someone's eye out. Perhaps this falls more in line with a darker, moodier approach to the material. Could we be in for a more mature (see: bloody, violent) Power Rangers movie? 

Mature or not, the biggest hurdle the film has to overcome is Repulsa's drastic look. Much has been written about Elizabeth Banks' take on Rita Repulsa. Based on her appearance, the character shares nothing in common with the earlier version. While Banks says it's a "modern and edgy makeover", that's the sort of thing someone (probably) said during early Terminator Genisys pitch meetings. They may as well have created a brand spankin' new baddie, no?

Directed by Dean Israelite and starring Naomi Scott, Dacre Montgomery, RJ Cyler, Ludi Lin, and Elizabeth Banks, the Power Rangers movie will be released in UK and US cinemas on March 24, 2017. 

Gem Seddon

Gem Seddon is GamesRadar+'s west coast Entertainment News Reporter, working to keep all of you updated on all of the latest and greatest movies and shows on streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Outside of entertainment journalism, Gem can frequently be found writing about the alternative health and wellness industry, and obsessing over all things Aliens and Terminator on Twitter.