The Unbelievable Untold Story: How Power Rangers narrowly missed being shaped by Stan Lee!

Stan Lee played a crucial role in shaping Marvel's multimedia empire, which he had hoped would also include the Power Rangers franchise before those plans were scrapped. Marvel has exerted a significant influence on media production in recent years through its movies, TV shows, and comic books that feature a multitude of characters and storylines. However, the Power Rangers franchise stands out due to its distinct popularity, portrayal of superheroes, and deliberate avoidance of affiliation with either Marvel or DC. While it is commendable that the Power Rangers were allowed to develop into their own distinct entity, it sparks curiosity to imagine an alternate reality where this did not occur.

Introduced to American audiences in 1993, the Power Rangers franchise originated as an adaptation of the Japanese series Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger, known for its Super Sentai genre. The show began by blending original American footage with Japanese fight scenes and monster sequences. Interestingly, Marvel Productions had collaborated with Toei Company, the producer of Super Sentai, to create three of these series. However, it was Haim Saban who successfully convinced Fox Kids to produce the Power Rangers, resulting in the immensely popular show that later brought back the original cast for the Power Rangers: Once & Always reunion.

Stan Lee Almost Made Power Rangers In The 1970s

In the late 1970s, Stan Lee aimed to expand the reach of Marvel's stories. His efforts came to fruition in 1978 with the release of The Amazing Spider-Man animated series. This success in Japan led Marvel to collaborate with the Toei Company, known for their production of Super Sentai. Through this partnership, Spider-Man was reimagined for Japanese audiences and the two companies subsequently shared concepts for their respective markets. Marvel's involvement extended to the production of Battle Fever J, Denshi Sentai Denziman, and Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan, the fifth installment in Toei's Super Sentai series, which later inspired the creation of the Power Rangers.

It has been reported that Stan Lee was particularly fond of Sun Vulcan and presented it to Margaret Loesch, the then-president and CEO of Marvel Productions, as a potential pitch for American viewers. Similar to the Power Rangers and other Super Sentai series, Sun Vulcan centered around three heroes, each assigned a specific color, who united as protectors of peace, utilizing their martial skills and a massive robot to battle evil. While Loesch found the idea promising, Gene Pelc, who had worked on Marvel's collaborations with Toei Company in the past, pitched a plan that outlined how Marvel could bring Sun Vulcan to the U.S. audience, a blueprint that would later resemble the approach used by Saban.

Why Stan Lee's Power Rangers Plan Didn't Happen

With the support of Loesch and Pelc, Marvel created a $25,000 sizzle reel to present Sun Vulcan to different networks, including HBO (via Inverse). Unfortunately, the response from these networks was unfavorable, leading to none of the proposed plans materializing. Consequently, the agreement between Marvel and Toei Company came to an end, resulting in the two companies going their separate ways. This, in turn, provided Haim Saban with the opportunity to transform the Power Rangers into the successful franchise it is today.

Why It's Better Stan Lee & Marvel Didn't Make Power Rangers

Although Marvel's inability to adapt Sun Vulcan may have disappointed Lee, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The fact that the Power Rangers were able to evolve independently from Marvel has been incredibly advantageous. It has allowed them the freedom to expand their expansive canon universe without being constrained by the established events in the MCU. With a 30-year-long history, this separation from Marvel's multiverse tie-ins has provided the Power Rangers with the flexibility to develop and conclude various eras and significant canon events of their own. This includes the impactful deaths of Zordon (David J. Fielding) and the redemption of Rita (Machiko Soga, Carla Perez).

On a larger scale, the Power Rangers franchise's independence from Marvel is advantageous as it promotes diversity on television. By not being developed by Marvel, the series opens up opportunities for other sources of inspiration and creativity within the superhero genre. This doesn't imply that the Power Rangers wouldn't have been successful under Lee's guidance, but it is ultimately beneficial for viewers to have a variety of storytelling options available to them.