Featured Image Credit: The Canadian Press/Barry King/Alamy Stock Photo
Topics: Film and TV, Netflix
Daisy Phillipson
Topics: Film and TV, Netflix
The actress who portrayed the original Pink Power Ranger has responded to rumours as to why she hasn't joined the Netflix reunion.
Nostalgia fans rejoiced when they found out the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers cast are coming back together to mark 30 years since the hit show started.
The one-off special - titled Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always - will see the gang come together to put a stop Rita Repulsa once and for all.
Returning as Blue Ranger Billy Cranston is David Yost, who has appeared in a whole host of the franchise's TV projects including Power Rangers Zeo, Life After Power Rangers, Power Rangers: Rise of the Ninja, and Power Rangers Dino Fury.
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Black Ranger Zack Taylor will once again be portrayed by Walter E Jones, who first appeared in the OG show back in 1993.
Jones has appeared in projects such as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Power Rangers Lost Galaxy, Power Rangers Wild Force and Life After Power Rangers
But one person missing from the line-up is Amy Jo Johnson, who played the original Pink Power Ranger.
Instead, the second iteration named Kat Hillard is taking over for the reunion.
Fans were devastated to learn that Johnson wouldn't be suiting up for the show, with some suggesting the real reason she turned down the project is due to money.
The speculation came after she tweeted in January: "For the record I never said no... I just didn’t say yes to what was offered.
"But other fun stuff is in-store! Looking forward to watching my friends kick a**!"
The backlash was so strong, she's since taken to Twitter to set the record straight, writing: "Please stop saying I didn’t do reunion because of money. Simply not true.
"Maybe I just didn’t want to wear spandex in my 50s [laughing emoji] or couldn’t go to NZ for a month. Or none of ur beeswax."
The 52-year-old star went on to say that she and Jason David Frank, who sadly passed away in November last year, 'chose not to' do the project for their 'own reasons'.
"They filmed before he passed," she said, later adding: "Excited to see my pals @David_Yost & @Walterejones rock it though!! #PowerRangers."
Hundreds of people have commented on Johnson's post, with many wishing her the best and thanking her for the memories.
"You do what feels best, and don't owe anybody anything," wrote one, while another said: "Already gave so much content for us being a Pink Ranger and I’m forever grateful four the childhood memories."
Others, however, weren't too happy to see a reunion going ahead with so many of the OGs left out.
"Only two of the OGs signed on, two have passed away, and one is in legal trouble," said one.
"I don’t think they should have done this if they couldn’t secure the remaining living Rangers.
"It feels weird seeing Walter and David in a line-up with later Gen characters."
But most of the fans are just excited to see the superheroes who made our childhoods in an action-packed special.
In addition to the three aforementioned superheroes, the upcoming special will see the appearance of Steve Cardenas, who played the second Red Ranger Rocky DeSantos, and Karan Ashley, who played the second Yellow Ranger Aisha Campbell.
The second Black Ranger Adam Park played by Johnny Yong Bosch and Barbara Goodson as the voice of villain Rita Repulsa will also make a triumphant return.
Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: Once & Always will drop on Netflix on 19 April.