Now that the actual Power Rangers have been in place for some time, the people behind Dean Israelite’s reboot have been gradually adding supporting cast members, with some truly impressive names being confirmed. Now, we can add another welcome addition to this list: none other than Bill Hader.
The comedian/actor has prior form in the sci-fi voiceover – of sorts, at least – having served as a ‘voice consultant’ for BB-8 in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (whatever input he had, clearly it was worthwhile), although most of you will recognise him from his numerous comedic film roles: Superbad, Paul, Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, Trainwreck and Forgetting Sarah Marshall all immediately spring to mind.
In Power Rangers, he will play “Ai-yi-yi”-ing robot assistant Alpha 5, whose role in the original series was generally to help Zordon (here voiced by Bryan Cranston) as he delegated missions to the Rangers. In common with his prior film roles he was basically comedic relief (and the source of much slapstick comedy), a role we’ll expect him to fulfil here.
With Alpha’s casting confirmed, it begs the question of who’s next to be added to the latest big-screen remake? By our count that leaves just Bulk and Skull. Fingers crossed they nail the casting for them like they have for everyone else so far…
Hader joins existing cast members Naomi Scott, Becky G, RJ Cyler, Ludi Lin and Dacre Montgomery, with Elizabeth Banks playing Rita and Bryan Cranston as Zordon. Dean Israelite (Project Almanac) will direct, working from a script by John Gatins and Ashley Miller, with Marty Bowen, Brian Casentini, Wyck Godfrey and Haim Saban serving as producers, and Brent O’Connor and Allison Shearmur as executive producers.
Power Rangers will be released in cinemas on 24 March 2017. For all the latest movie news, pick up the latest issue of SciFiNow.
