So, I've been taking up a hobby in screenwriting for the past few years and decided to try my hand at an MMPR reboot film. In light of the news of a new movie coming out from Lionsgate, I'd like to share the opener that I've fleshed out:
MIGHTY MORPHIN' POWER RANGERS: THE BATTLE BEGINS
BY RANGER923
EXT. DEEP SPACE, TARMAC 3 - 10,000 YEARS AGO
In a distant solar system, the small grey planet of TARMAC 3 is in orbit. A rogue space cruiser zooms towards it and approaches the surface; a dark, desert-like atmosphere full of rocks and canyons.
EXT. PLANET SURFACE - SAME - NIGHT
The cruiser locks its landing gears and settles on the surface. It faces another ship that has already landed. Three menacing aliens are standing nearby awaiting this cruiser’s arrival.
An entrance hatch opens underneath, deploying a ramp. As the three aliens look on, five cloaked warriors walk down the ramp.
GENERAL GOLDAR, a wolf-like humanoid with golden armor, SNARLS as the warriors approach him and his two guards, KNAST THE KNIGHT and LADY SCORPINA. Knast stands as a bat-like humanoid with black armor, sword and shield; while Scorpina, a golden-clad humanoid vixen stands armed with her large and curvy blade.
The five warriors stand in formation as the middle one, GEKI, lets down his hood.
GEKI
General Goldar, pleasure to make your acquaintance.
GOLDAR looks confused. Geki is a young teenager.
GOLDAR
(pointing his sword)
Who are you, little boy?
GEKI
I am Geki, leader of the Galaxy Rangers.
The other cloaked warriors remove their hoods, revealing them all to be teenagers.
GOLDAR
What is this, a joke?!
I was not sent here to negotiate with children!
GEKI
Do not let our appearance fool you. As with your fellow generals we’ve dealt with previously, you will find our offerings most worthy of your attention.
One of the rangers hands a box over to Geki. He opens it and slowly presents the contents to General Goldar.
GEKI
For the protection of this planet against the conquests of Empress Rita, we offer… the golden Coins of Morphos.
The box full of coins shine in Goldar’s eyes. He looks tempted at first, but then his eyes shift.
GOLDAR
Petty cash for a petty planet.
Goldar raises his hand to his face and his eyes begin to glow red. He summons energy and thrusts his hand out. An energy blast hits the ground below the Rangers. The explosion knocks them down and the box of coins scatter on the ground.
GOLDAR
(picks up one of the coins)
You can’t buy your way out of this one.
We know why you’re here.
GEKI pushes himself up. Goldar walks over to him.
GOLDAR
Tell me, young Ranger. The tribes of Tarmac 3 are few, if not primitive. Surely, you must find some other value in this planet.
GEKI
(struggling to get up)
Freedom for all, is why we fight.
Goldar reaches down and picks up Geki by the collar.
GOLDAR
(snarls)
You’re hiding something here!
Perhaps… a secret weapon?
Goldar holds him tighter. Geki struggles. The other rangers are still trying to stand up.
GEKI
Rita and her dark magic must be stopped.
GOLDAR
Not by you.
A voice appears from nearby.
VOICE
Let him go!
Another warrior approaches in white armor and a cloak. He is armed with a staff that he thrusts to the ground. He poses in an battle-ready stance.
GOLDAR
Well, if it isn't the almighty ZORDON of Eltar.
ZORDON
Let the boy go.
GOLDAR
Sending children to the front line? How pathetic.
Goldar throws Geki to the air. Zordon leaps to catch him.
The other rangers rise and strike Knast The Knight and Lady Scorpina. A battle begins.
ZORDON
Young minds are without corruption…
Zordon reaches out to his staff and it flies to him. He catches it and strikes Goldar.
ZORDON
Young spirits are the bravest…
Knast and Scorpina go in for an attack. Zordon blasts them with energy beams from his staff.
ZORDON
Young hearts choose good over evil!
Goldar gets up.
GOLDAR
Foolish words from who I thought was a wise man. Send in the Patrol!
Ten gray-suited foot soldiers jump out from their ship to attack Zordon and the Rangers. They all fight in battle and Geki finds himself facing Knast the Knight.
Geki draws out his sword. Knast laughs while slowly and menacingly drawing out his own.
KNAST
Do you know who I am, boy?
Geki stays focused.
KNAST
I have obliterated countless swordsmen, more skilled and older than you.
Geki smirks.
GEKI
Then I should be a problem for you.
Geki and Knast battle. Geki is a skilled swordsman, but unfortunately Knast is too powerful and disarms him. His sword falls to the ground and he falls to his knees. Knast keeps his sword pointed toward him as he picks up Geki’s sword. He examines it.
KNAST
Ah, the Sword of Hellfriede.
A legendary sword if I may say so myself. It’s a shame it ended up in such unworthy, inappropriate hands.
Knast raises the sword. Geki’s eyes widen. Zordon sees from a distance.
ZORDON
NO!
Knast strikes Geki across the chest and he goes down. Knast laughs and moves on. Zordon watches in terror as each of his Rangers go down one by one.
Goldar and Zordon continue to duel. They pause.
GOLDAR
It’s over Zordon. Your pathetic Rangers were hardly a threat. We’ve already seized this secret weapon of yours and it is quite impressive. We shall use it on our next conquest.
ZORDON looks with anger.
GOLDAR
You want Tarmac 3? You can keep it.
Goldar looks up to the sky. Rita’s battlecruiser is seen approaching.
GOLDAR
Knast, Scorpina! Let’s go, our “negotiating” is done here.
Knast and Scorpina retreat to their ship. They take off and the secret weapon is revealed to be in captivity, lifted by chains from their ship.
Zordon runs over to the fallen Rangers. Geki is still alive.
GEKI
(weakened)
They’ve taken the BattleZord.
ZORDON holds him.
GEKI
It was our last chance at redemption and we’ve failed you. I’ve failed you, Master Zordon. I was foolish to face him so arrogantly.
ZORDON
No, you… you fought valiantly. This was to be a peaceful negotiation.
GEKI
It was a trap. They are escaping, Master.
Zordon looks up. The enemy ships are departing. He looks back at Geki and the other Rangers. He does not want to leave them behind. Geki reaches over and grabs five of the remaining Coins of Morphos.
GEKI
For our transcendence.
Zordon nods and takes the coins.
ZORDON
You all have been very brave. The worlds you have already saved will forever honor you.
Geki struggles to say something, but he dies in Zordon’s arms.
Zordon tears in anger.
He stands up and exposes the coins in his hand. He aims his staff up to the sky and the coins start glowing as they absorb the Rangers' spirits. He looks back at the departing ships. Something has been launched and it’s coming his way. It’s a missile.
Zordon runs for The Titan, the Rangers’ space cruiser. He reaches for his communicator to the ship.
ZORDON
Alpha Five, come in:
we have an emergency!
INT. RANGER SHIP (TITAN) - SAME
An android, ALPHA FIVE is at the controls. Zordon's face appears in a video tube at the front of the control deck.
ZORDON
(over video comm)
Prepare The Titan for immediate launch!
ALPHA FIVE
Aye-aye! Right away, Zordon!
EXT. TARMAC 3 SURFACE - SAME
Zordon looks back. The missiles hit the battle ground, engulfing everything flames. The Rangers are gone. He continues running and makes his way to the ship. They take off in the nick of time.
INT. RANGER SHIP (TITAN) - SAME
He runs to a seat at the control bridge and watches in despair through a viewing screen; Tarmac 3 is being destroyed.
ZORDON
Alpha, report!
ALPHA FIVE
It seems as if they’ve detonated an implosion bomb! It’s taking Tarmac 3 entirely!
ZORDON
Get us out of here!
The Titan struggles to break the planet’s gravitational pull. The planet crumbles beneath them and Rita’s battlecruiser is seen in the distance.
INT. RITA’S BATTLECRUISER - SAME
GENERAL GOLDAR, KNAST THE KNIGHT and LADY SCORPINA are in the main command deck. Various henchmen are at the controls of the ship.
GOLDAR
Prepare for transport!
HENCHMAN
Yes sir!
EXT. BATTLECRUISER - SAME
Rita’s battlecruiser emits a beam. It opens up a wormhole.
INT. TITAN - SAME
There is an emergency BEEPING.
ZORDON
What’s happening, Alpha?
ALPHA FIVE
My sensors indicate they’re opening a wormhole! They also have the BattleZord on board their cargo hold!
ZORDON
Fire everything we have on her ship! We can’t let them get away!
ALPHA FIVE
Aye-aye, Zordon!
They launch missiles and lasers on Rita’s ship. The Titan is struggling to break free from Tarmac 3.
ZORDON
Keep firing!
One missile makes a direct hit to Rita’s command deck.
INT. RITA’S BATTLECRUISER - SAME
Part of the command deck explodes.
HENCHMAN
Direct hit, General Goldar!
We have 45 seconds until our ship explodes!
GOLDAR hits him.
GOLDAR
No! Gather your men into the cargo chamber and prepare to deploy!
Knast, Scorpina; ready the escape pod for our Queen. We’re leaving.
EXT. RITA’S BATTLECRUISER - SAME
The cargo chamber detaches and an escape pod follows. The Battlecruiser explodes into a fiery wreck.
INT. TITAN - SAME
Zordon and Alpha watch the viewing screen.
ALPHA FIVE
It looks like they’ve abandoned ship! And they’re taking the BattleZord too!
ZORDON
Alpha, we must stop them!
Fire the thrusters!
ALPHA
Thrusters are at maximum. Gravitational pull from the implosion is still pulling us in!
ZORDON
Hit the shockwave and blast them!
ALPHA FIVE
Aye-aye, Zordon!
Alpha hits a button that sends out an electromagnetic shockwave followed by a torpedo.
EXT. WORMHOLE - SAME
The Cargo Chamber enters the wormhole. It gets swallowed by deep space. The shockwave hits Rita’s Escape Pod and it's external lights shut down. It has been disabled.
Both escape pod and torpedo get swallowed by the wormhole.
Tarmac 3 is falling apart but the implosion is still at full force. The Titan is struggling to break free.
INT. TITAN - SAME
ALPHA FIVE
Shockwave successful, but we lost the torpedo!
The computer is BEEPING. The wormhole begins to close.
ALPHA
The wormhole is closing! We still can’t break free from Tarmac 3! What should we do?
Zordon focuses.
ZORDON
Route all power to the boosters; we’re going in after them.
ALPHA
That’s a one way trip, Zordon!
Zordon looks down at his hand, still clenching the five Coins of Morphos.
ZORDON
So is the fight for justice. Let’s go!
Alpha launches all propulsion. They brace themselves as they enter the wormhole.
FLASH
TITLE CARD - “MIGHTY MORPHIN' POWER RANGERS: THE BATTLE BEGINS”
======
So now, Zordon bears the weight of having the Galaxy Rangers killed under his watch, something he never mentions when he recruits the new teens from earth.
Overall, I was developing a story where you see a group of five teens who become the unlikeliest of heroes. They're focused on pop culture, glued to their phones and have little responsibility... The world is thrown on their shoulders by Zordon and they eventfully look to him for guidance. The kicker comes along later when Goldar captures Zordon and reveals to the Rangers that Zordon led his first teenaged-team to die in battle. Zordon gets defeated, thrown into a pit and the Ranger's spirits are broken. They're left to decide to take responsibilities into their own hands.
The main plot of the story is the rangers learning how to use their new powers, at the same time searching, uncovering and activating each of their dinozords that have been hidden throughout the planet, all before Rita has a chance to attack Earth with her giants.
Individually, Jason learns what it takes to be a leader because he's not well liked by a few of the rangers. Kimberly needs to learn the world is more than just glitz and glamor, and that there are people in need. Zack is the smartass of the group who needs to learn teamwork and Trini needs to come out of her shell because she has so much potential. Billy is the tech geek trying to win the attention of his dad, who just happens to be a busy NASA project manager, in charge of the team who accidentally unlocked Rita's capsule.
On a minor note, the intro sets up little bits of the Green Ranger story that I've mapped out for a sequel story... I tried to stay true to the mythology from the show and even used some terms/names from Zyuranger: Knast The Knight has this "Sword of Helfriede" (Sword of Darkness) that he stole from Geki. Goldar has one of the coins for the offering as well as Zordon's prototype "battle zord" which will become the DragonZord.
The aspect of transcendence plays a role later on, as Knast The Knight gets defeated by the rangers, and Rita performs the same transcendence for his spirit, into the coin that Goldar has... creating the 6th Power Coin.
MIGHTY MORPHIN' POWER RANGERS: THE BATTLE BEGINS
BY RANGER923
EXT. DEEP SPACE, TARMAC 3 - 10,000 YEARS AGO
In a distant solar system, the small grey planet of TARMAC 3 is in orbit. A rogue space cruiser zooms towards it and approaches the surface; a dark, desert-like atmosphere full of rocks and canyons.
EXT. PLANET SURFACE - SAME - NIGHT
The cruiser locks its landing gears and settles on the surface. It faces another ship that has already landed. Three menacing aliens are standing nearby awaiting this cruiser’s arrival.
An entrance hatch opens underneath, deploying a ramp. As the three aliens look on, five cloaked warriors walk down the ramp.
GENERAL GOLDAR, a wolf-like humanoid with golden armor, SNARLS as the warriors approach him and his two guards, KNAST THE KNIGHT and LADY SCORPINA. Knast stands as a bat-like humanoid with black armor, sword and shield; while Scorpina, a golden-clad humanoid vixen stands armed with her large and curvy blade.
The five warriors stand in formation as the middle one, GEKI, lets down his hood.
GEKI
General Goldar, pleasure to make your acquaintance.
GOLDAR looks confused. Geki is a young teenager.
GOLDAR
(pointing his sword)
Who are you, little boy?
GEKI
I am Geki, leader of the Galaxy Rangers.
The other cloaked warriors remove their hoods, revealing them all to be teenagers.
GOLDAR
What is this, a joke?!
I was not sent here to negotiate with children!
GEKI
Do not let our appearance fool you. As with your fellow generals we’ve dealt with previously, you will find our offerings most worthy of your attention.
One of the rangers hands a box over to Geki. He opens it and slowly presents the contents to General Goldar.
GEKI
For the protection of this planet against the conquests of Empress Rita, we offer… the golden Coins of Morphos.
The box full of coins shine in Goldar’s eyes. He looks tempted at first, but then his eyes shift.
GOLDAR
Petty cash for a petty planet.
Goldar raises his hand to his face and his eyes begin to glow red. He summons energy and thrusts his hand out. An energy blast hits the ground below the Rangers. The explosion knocks them down and the box of coins scatter on the ground.
GOLDAR
(picks up one of the coins)
You can’t buy your way out of this one.
We know why you’re here.
GEKI pushes himself up. Goldar walks over to him.
GOLDAR
Tell me, young Ranger. The tribes of Tarmac 3 are few, if not primitive. Surely, you must find some other value in this planet.
GEKI
(struggling to get up)
Freedom for all, is why we fight.
Goldar reaches down and picks up Geki by the collar.
GOLDAR
(snarls)
You’re hiding something here!
Perhaps… a secret weapon?
Goldar holds him tighter. Geki struggles. The other rangers are still trying to stand up.
GEKI
Rita and her dark magic must be stopped.
GOLDAR
Not by you.
A voice appears from nearby.
VOICE
Let him go!
Another warrior approaches in white armor and a cloak. He is armed with a staff that he thrusts to the ground. He poses in an battle-ready stance.
GOLDAR
Well, if it isn't the almighty ZORDON of Eltar.
ZORDON
Let the boy go.
GOLDAR
Sending children to the front line? How pathetic.
Goldar throws Geki to the air. Zordon leaps to catch him.
The other rangers rise and strike Knast The Knight and Lady Scorpina. A battle begins.
ZORDON
Young minds are without corruption…
Zordon reaches out to his staff and it flies to him. He catches it and strikes Goldar.
ZORDON
Young spirits are the bravest…
Knast and Scorpina go in for an attack. Zordon blasts them with energy beams from his staff.
ZORDON
Young hearts choose good over evil!
Goldar gets up.
GOLDAR
Foolish words from who I thought was a wise man. Send in the Patrol!
Ten gray-suited foot soldiers jump out from their ship to attack Zordon and the Rangers. They all fight in battle and Geki finds himself facing Knast the Knight.
Geki draws out his sword. Knast laughs while slowly and menacingly drawing out his own.
KNAST
Do you know who I am, boy?
Geki stays focused.
KNAST
I have obliterated countless swordsmen, more skilled and older than you.
Geki smirks.
GEKI
Then I should be a problem for you.
Geki and Knast battle. Geki is a skilled swordsman, but unfortunately Knast is too powerful and disarms him. His sword falls to the ground and he falls to his knees. Knast keeps his sword pointed toward him as he picks up Geki’s sword. He examines it.
KNAST
Ah, the Sword of Hellfriede.
A legendary sword if I may say so myself. It’s a shame it ended up in such unworthy, inappropriate hands.
Knast raises the sword. Geki’s eyes widen. Zordon sees from a distance.
ZORDON
NO!
Knast strikes Geki across the chest and he goes down. Knast laughs and moves on. Zordon watches in terror as each of his Rangers go down one by one.
Goldar and Zordon continue to duel. They pause.
GOLDAR
It’s over Zordon. Your pathetic Rangers were hardly a threat. We’ve already seized this secret weapon of yours and it is quite impressive. We shall use it on our next conquest.
ZORDON looks with anger.
GOLDAR
You want Tarmac 3? You can keep it.
Goldar looks up to the sky. Rita’s battlecruiser is seen approaching.
GOLDAR
Knast, Scorpina! Let’s go, our “negotiating” is done here.
Knast and Scorpina retreat to their ship. They take off and the secret weapon is revealed to be in captivity, lifted by chains from their ship.
Zordon runs over to the fallen Rangers. Geki is still alive.
GEKI
(weakened)
They’ve taken the BattleZord.
ZORDON holds him.
GEKI
It was our last chance at redemption and we’ve failed you. I’ve failed you, Master Zordon. I was foolish to face him so arrogantly.
ZORDON
No, you… you fought valiantly. This was to be a peaceful negotiation.
GEKI
It was a trap. They are escaping, Master.
Zordon looks up. The enemy ships are departing. He looks back at Geki and the other Rangers. He does not want to leave them behind. Geki reaches over and grabs five of the remaining Coins of Morphos.
GEKI
For our transcendence.
Zordon nods and takes the coins.
ZORDON
You all have been very brave. The worlds you have already saved will forever honor you.
Geki struggles to say something, but he dies in Zordon’s arms.
Zordon tears in anger.
He stands up and exposes the coins in his hand. He aims his staff up to the sky and the coins start glowing as they absorb the Rangers' spirits. He looks back at the departing ships. Something has been launched and it’s coming his way. It’s a missile.
Zordon runs for The Titan, the Rangers’ space cruiser. He reaches for his communicator to the ship.
ZORDON
Alpha Five, come in:
we have an emergency!
INT. RANGER SHIP (TITAN) - SAME
An android, ALPHA FIVE is at the controls. Zordon's face appears in a video tube at the front of the control deck.
ZORDON
(over video comm)
Prepare The Titan for immediate launch!
ALPHA FIVE
Aye-aye! Right away, Zordon!
EXT. TARMAC 3 SURFACE - SAME
Zordon looks back. The missiles hit the battle ground, engulfing everything flames. The Rangers are gone. He continues running and makes his way to the ship. They take off in the nick of time.
INT. RANGER SHIP (TITAN) - SAME
He runs to a seat at the control bridge and watches in despair through a viewing screen; Tarmac 3 is being destroyed.
ZORDON
Alpha, report!
ALPHA FIVE
It seems as if they’ve detonated an implosion bomb! It’s taking Tarmac 3 entirely!
ZORDON
Get us out of here!
The Titan struggles to break the planet’s gravitational pull. The planet crumbles beneath them and Rita’s battlecruiser is seen in the distance.
INT. RITA’S BATTLECRUISER - SAME
GENERAL GOLDAR, KNAST THE KNIGHT and LADY SCORPINA are in the main command deck. Various henchmen are at the controls of the ship.
GOLDAR
Prepare for transport!
HENCHMAN
Yes sir!
EXT. BATTLECRUISER - SAME
Rita’s battlecruiser emits a beam. It opens up a wormhole.
INT. TITAN - SAME
There is an emergency BEEPING.
ZORDON
What’s happening, Alpha?
ALPHA FIVE
My sensors indicate they’re opening a wormhole! They also have the BattleZord on board their cargo hold!
ZORDON
Fire everything we have on her ship! We can’t let them get away!
ALPHA FIVE
Aye-aye, Zordon!
They launch missiles and lasers on Rita’s ship. The Titan is struggling to break free from Tarmac 3.
ZORDON
Keep firing!
One missile makes a direct hit to Rita’s command deck.
INT. RITA’S BATTLECRUISER - SAME
Part of the command deck explodes.
HENCHMAN
Direct hit, General Goldar!
We have 45 seconds until our ship explodes!
GOLDAR hits him.
GOLDAR
No! Gather your men into the cargo chamber and prepare to deploy!
Knast, Scorpina; ready the escape pod for our Queen. We’re leaving.
EXT. RITA’S BATTLECRUISER - SAME
The cargo chamber detaches and an escape pod follows. The Battlecruiser explodes into a fiery wreck.
INT. TITAN - SAME
Zordon and Alpha watch the viewing screen.
ALPHA FIVE
It looks like they’ve abandoned ship! And they’re taking the BattleZord too!
ZORDON
Alpha, we must stop them!
Fire the thrusters!
ALPHA
Thrusters are at maximum. Gravitational pull from the implosion is still pulling us in!
ZORDON
Hit the shockwave and blast them!
ALPHA FIVE
Aye-aye, Zordon!
Alpha hits a button that sends out an electromagnetic shockwave followed by a torpedo.
EXT. WORMHOLE - SAME
The Cargo Chamber enters the wormhole. It gets swallowed by deep space. The shockwave hits Rita’s Escape Pod and it's external lights shut down. It has been disabled.
Both escape pod and torpedo get swallowed by the wormhole.
Tarmac 3 is falling apart but the implosion is still at full force. The Titan is struggling to break free.
INT. TITAN - SAME
ALPHA FIVE
Shockwave successful, but we lost the torpedo!
The computer is BEEPING. The wormhole begins to close.
ALPHA
The wormhole is closing! We still can’t break free from Tarmac 3! What should we do?
Zordon focuses.
ZORDON
Route all power to the boosters; we’re going in after them.
ALPHA
That’s a one way trip, Zordon!
Zordon looks down at his hand, still clenching the five Coins of Morphos.
ZORDON
So is the fight for justice. Let’s go!
Alpha launches all propulsion. They brace themselves as they enter the wormhole.
FLASH
TITLE CARD - “MIGHTY MORPHIN' POWER RANGERS: THE BATTLE BEGINS”
======
So now, Zordon bears the weight of having the Galaxy Rangers killed under his watch, something he never mentions when he recruits the new teens from earth.
Overall, I was developing a story where you see a group of five teens who become the unlikeliest of heroes. They're focused on pop culture, glued to their phones and have little responsibility... The world is thrown on their shoulders by Zordon and they eventfully look to him for guidance. The kicker comes along later when Goldar captures Zordon and reveals to the Rangers that Zordon led his first teenaged-team to die in battle. Zordon gets defeated, thrown into a pit and the Ranger's spirits are broken. They're left to decide to take responsibilities into their own hands.
The main plot of the story is the rangers learning how to use their new powers, at the same time searching, uncovering and activating each of their dinozords that have been hidden throughout the planet, all before Rita has a chance to attack Earth with her giants.
Individually, Jason learns what it takes to be a leader because he's not well liked by a few of the rangers. Kimberly needs to learn the world is more than just glitz and glamor, and that there are people in need. Zack is the smartass of the group who needs to learn teamwork and Trini needs to come out of her shell because she has so much potential. Billy is the tech geek trying to win the attention of his dad, who just happens to be a busy NASA project manager, in charge of the team who accidentally unlocked Rita's capsule.
On a minor note, the intro sets up little bits of the Green Ranger story that I've mapped out for a sequel story... I tried to stay true to the mythology from the show and even used some terms/names from Zyuranger: Knast The Knight has this "Sword of Helfriede" (Sword of Darkness) that he stole from Geki. Goldar has one of the coins for the offering as well as Zordon's prototype "battle zord" which will become the DragonZord.
The aspect of transcendence plays a role later on, as Knast The Knight gets defeated by the rangers, and Rita performs the same transcendence for his spirit, into the coin that Goldar has... creating the 6th Power Coin.
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