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Power Rangers features first openly gay superhero

The new Power Rangers - Credit: Lionsgate
The new Power Rangers – Credit: Lionsgate

The new ‘Power Rangers’ movie is getting a lot of buzz.

Not from its early reviews, but from its openly gay Yellow Ranger.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, this makes ‘Power Rangers’ a truly ground-breaking movie – featuring the first ever open gay superhero on the big screen.

“Power Rangers is breaking down a barrier no superhero movie has before,” they explain. “The Lionsgate reboot of the ’90s children’s TV show is the first big-budget superhero movie to feature an LGBT protagonist.”

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According to their report, ‘Power Rangers’ features a second act revelation which sees Yellow Ranger Trini coming to terms with her sexual orientation.

As one character suggests she might be having ‘boyfriend problems’ they quickly realise it might be ‘girlfriend problems’ instead. It’s just a small moment, but one that director Dean Israelite says is pivotal to the entire film.

And you can kinda see why.

The Yellow Ranger played by Becky G - Credit: Lionsgate
The Yellow Ranger played by Becky G – Credit: Lionsgate

“For Trini, really she’s questioning a lot about who she is,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “She hasn’t fully figured it out yet. I think what’s great about that scene and what that scene propels for the rest of the movie is, ‘That’s OK.’ The movie is saying, ‘That’s OK,’ and all of the kids have to own who they are and find their tribe.”

Of course, there are plenty of LGBT comic book characters, including the likes of Wonder Woman, Catwoman, Harley Quinn and even X-Men’s Iceman. But so far, none of these has made the translation to the big screen, with all of them being portrayed as straight characters.

But now it seems ‘Power Rangers’ has opened up LGBT superhero diversity.

“They really stepped up to the plate,” said original Blue Range, David Yost, who left the series following harassment for being openly gay. “I think so many people in the LGBTQI community are going to be excited to see that representation.”

‘Power Rangers’ stars Dacre Montgomery, RJ Cyler, Ludi Lyn, Becky G and Naomi Scott alongside Bryan Cranston, Bill Hader and Elizabeth Banks.

Dean Israelite directed the film based on a script by Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Michele Mulroney, and Kieran Mulroney.

‘Power Rangers’ heads to cinemas on 24 March 2017.

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