It’s morphin time again as the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always cast is stacked with old favorites and some new actors in the roles of fresh and familiar characters. The Netflix Power Rangers special is tied to the 30th anniversary of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers franchise and reunites the original of the team — and most of the original cast — after three decades.
As Netflix’s official synopsis states, “This 30th Anniversary Special is inspired by the legendary mantra from the franchise 'Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger,' meaning once you become part of the Ranger family, you are always welcome back.” While most of the original cast returned for the special Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, even some cast who weren't able to return saw their characters appear in the special.
Steve Cardenas As Rocky DeSantos / Red Ranger
American martial artist Steve Cardenas returns as Rocky DeSantos, who replaced the original Red Ranger in the Mighty Morphin saga, and eventually became the Blue Zeo Ranger in Power Rangers Zeo. In his time, Cardenas was notable for being the first Latino Power Ranger. The martial artist hasn't appeared in any other movies or shows outside the Power Rangers franchise, instead starting his own martial arts studios after retiring from acting, though he does make convention appearances for fans.
Though a Power Rangers team is traditionally led by a Red Power Ranger, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always cast is not. The Red Ranger appears in a ing role on the team this time around. In the special, Rocky is called in to aid the team after other Power Rangers characters are captured by a robotic version of a fan-favorite villain. Rocky uses a duplicated Red Ranger power coin at his own personal risk to help save the day.
David Yost As Billy Cranston / Blue Ranger
The inventor of the team’s iconic wrist-worn communication devices, Billy Cranston is the brains behind the group. He is a gifted inventor, coming up with devices that would even baffle Zordon. As the first Blue Ranger, he adds much-needed strategic leadership. It's his own inventions in the special that bring the team back together as his search for energy from their former mentor Zordon is what brings an old enemy back to life.
David Yost is back as Cranston for the special. He is known for being one of the longest-running original Power Rangers cast to remain as a Ranger through Mighty Morphin Power Rangers' end with season 3. Yost hasn’t had many other on-screen appearances since then, but he served as a segment producer on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Walter Jones As Zack Taylor / Black Ranger
Walter Jones is one of the original Power Rangers characters returning for Once & Always, reprising his role as the Black Ranger Zack Taylor. A particularly charismatic and upbeat Ranger, Zack adds some humor to the Rangers’ mission even after all these years. The actor is more than happy to revisit the franchise. As he told MovieWeb, "I'm happy to be part of, you know, three decades of fans. It's pretty amazing." Jones broke out with the Black Ranger role but also had appearances in other successful TV shows. His filmography includes playing Sunnydale student Edward in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and drug dealer Rondell Robinson in The Shield. For Once & Always, his character is revealed to keep his fun-loving ways, but embrace responsibility. He gives up his job as a congressional representative to help raise a fallen teammate's daughter.
Catherine Sutherland As Katherine Hillard / Pink Ranger
While original Pink Ranger actress Amy Jo Johnson isn't returning in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, Catherine Sutherland dons the costume again as the second Pink Ranger, Katherine Hillard. The former ballerina is back in the special, still showcasing her kind-hearted nature to protect her teammates. The pressure is on for her since her own husband is one of the Power Rangers characters captured by the villain. The special also marks the first time she actually uses the Pterodactyl power coin as a duplicate coin is created for her, just as it is for Rocky. As for the Australian actress playing Katherine, Sutherland’s major filmography outside the Power Rangers franchise includes playing the character Anne Marie Vicksey in Tarsem Singh’s psychological sci-fi thriller The Cell.
Charlie Kersh as Minh Kwan
Minh is a new Power Rangers character created for the special. The daughter of Trini Kwan, the first Yellow Ranger, has a personal score to settle with Rita in the special, given how the sorceress killed her mother. Minh Kwan is played by actor-singer-martial artist Charlie Kersh, who has not had many major acting credits before and is a newcomer to the Power Rangers franchise. Minh spends the majority of the special on a quest for revenge, but learns what it really means to be a Power Ranger by the end, embracing her mother's legacy and helping Trini's friends save the world.
Barbara Goodson As Rita Repulsa
The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always cast would have been incomplete if one of the most powerful Power Rangers villains hadn't returned. The sorceress Rita Repulsa is back for revenge in the special, this time taking the form of an enhanced robot with time-warping skills. Her evil essence has been reconstituted in a new body. As she plans to undo the current timeline of the now-aged Rangers, the group is forced to reunite because of her devious plans. This particular role is one of Goodson’s many voice-acting credits, with the actress having previously voiced Prince Sprocket and Orbus in Power Rangers Zeo, Mandilok in Power Rangers Wild Force, and Mother Talzin in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always ing Cast & Characters
Johnny Yong Bosch as Adam Park - The second Black Ranger, Adam Park, has been as iconic as his predecessor, Zack. So, it only made sense for Johnny Yong Bosch to reprise his role as Park for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always. While he's not in on the action, his presence does hint at what retired Power Rangers do in the future - still help save the world. Bosch is an accomplished voice actor, playing several characters in anime dubs. Some of his most popular roles include Ichigo Kurusaki in Bleach and Vash the Stampede in Trigun.
Karan Ashley as Aisha Campbell - The second Yellow Ranger, Aisha Campbell, is also a part of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always cast with Karan Ashley reprising her role. She appears alongside Adam as the two work together on a project that involves them traveling to distant planets. Ashley has had brief appearances in episodes of shows like Kenan & Kel and The Steve Harvey Show.
Richard Steven Horvitz as Alpha 8 and Alpha 9 - The Power Rangers’ robotic assistant also returns for the special, with Richard Steven Horvitz voicing the role of the new versions of Alpha. The root has his own version of a Command Center in the basement of Cranston Technologies, Billy's company. Horovitz is an actor/comedian and has a diverse filmography including live-action movies, shows, and anime. His most famous roles include Billy in The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and the alien Grey Matter in Ben 10.
Thuy Trang as Trini Kwan / Yellow Ranger - A crucial member of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Once & Always cast is the team’s original Yellow Ranger, Trini Kwan, who appears in flashback sequences during the special. She’s played by actress Thuy Trang, who ed away in 2001. Archived vocal performances by Trang are used during her foot sequence at the start of the special as well. Adding a canonical connection to her death while still ing her in the new special adds more emotional depth to the franchise. Trang’s final film credits included roles in Spy Hard and The Crow: City of Angels.
Austin St. John, Amy Jo Johnson, and Jason David Frank as the original Red, Pink, and Green Rangers - Though the three actors, like Trang, do not physically appear in the special, their vocals and archive footage of them do. The original Red, Pink, and Green Power Rangers do not appear without their helmets before they are captured by Rita Repulsa. Their voices while fighting are vocals used in the original series, though they don't have any lines. Archive footage is also used during the credits which includes the characters, specifically Kimberly, performing a song from the Season 2 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers episode "The Song Of Guitardo." Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always is also dedicated to the memories of Thuy Trang and Jason David Frank.
