Disney Plus Cancels Live Action Power Rangers Series

Disney+ has canceled its proposed live-action “Power Rangers” series, according to reports from Deadline and TheWrap published on August 14, 2026. The high-profile reboot will not move past the development stage at the streaming platform.

The project was originally announced in 2025, with Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz attached to write, showrun, and produce. The creative team, known for their work on “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” developed the series alongside sibling studio 20th Century TV and brand owner Hasbro. The adaptation aimed to reinvent the superhero franchise for a new generation while honoring the source material.

Economic Realities Behind the Cancellation

According to sources cited by Deadline, the decision to pass on the series came down to business economics rather than creative differences. Mounting a high-end live-action superhero series requires a major financial investment. Industry analysis indicates that such budgets are less favorable for a streaming platform when the network or studio does not own the underlying intellectual property.

While Disney+ has increasingly opened its slate to outside properties—such as development deals for “Ella Enchanted” and “Casper” series—the heavy financial lift of a franchise like “Power Rangers” proved prohibitive given that Hasbro owns the brand. Hasbro has sought to establish a live-action adaptation for years, including a previous attempt with Netflix.

Franchise History and Prior Adaptations

The “Power Rangers” property has a long history on screen following its 1993 debut as “The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” which was adapted from Japanese children’s shows including “Super Sentai.” The original television series centered on five teenagers who gain the ability to morph into superheroes equipped with giant mech fighters.

Over the decades, the brand has spawned numerous iterations, including “Power Rangers in Space” in 1998, “Power Rangers Time Force” in 2001, “Power Rangers Dino Fury” in 2021, and “Power Rangers Cosmic Fury” in 2023. Feature film adaptations include the 1995 release “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie” and a 2017 big-budget reboot from Lionsgate and Saban Films. That 2017 film carried a reported production budget of $100 million and grossed $142 million globally, a box-office return that ultimately derailed planned sequels.

With the Disney+ project officially scrapped, Steinberg and Shotz will continue their focus elsewhere. According to Deadline, the duo is currently finishing the third season of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians”—slated to premiere on November 20, 2026—under their overall deal with 20th Century TV.