Power Rangers Stars Detail How The TV Show Left Them Broke

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Summary

  • Power Rangers made over $1b from licensing & merchandise annually.
  • Original Power Rangers stars Walter Emanuel Jones and Austin St. John faced low salaries and financial struggles.
  • The pair said the money they made from car shows exceeded the salary they received for an entire season.

In the early 1990s, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers became extremely popular. Yet, two cast members from the show claimed they didn’t earn a substantial amount from the television production.

In the mid-90s, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers exploded in popularity, captivating audiences for three seasons from 1993 to 1995. The colorful costumes of the main characters and their teen personas struck a chord with young viewers. This TV sensation not only boosted sales of toys, video games, and clothing but also generated an estimated $1 billion annually from licensing and merchandise. Spanning 145 episodes over three seasons, it even made its way to the big screen in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995). However, two original cast members who worked on the project later revealed that financially, their involvement didn’t bring them significant benefits.

Walter Emanuel Jones and Austin St. John, who portrayed Zack Taylor (Black Ranger) and Jason Lee Scott (Red Ranger), respectively, acknowledged that the show didn’t offer the best working conditions and they received relatively small paychecks. In an interview on Fanward, Walter explained, “The experience was fantastic, but it wasn’t something that made us rich.” Austin concurred, saying, “We were struggling financially.” Since the show wasn’t unionized, wages for cast and crew members were low. The actors admitted that despite their fame, their earnings weren’t sufficient to cover their expenses, so they sought additional income sources. Eventually, they earned more from hosting car shows than acting in Power Rangers.

Walter reminisced about our journey from car shows to comic cons. Back then we were hosting car shows, but now we’re running comic cons. This change happened because we finally realized our value. In just a weekend, we could earn what we used to make in an entire season, which was astounding! It felt like, ‘Wow, we made that in a weekend? We’re just signing autographs? And we’re making more than we did for the first season over three days? That’s insane!’ Compared to the time and effort put into filming 40 episodes, this was quite a shift. Regrettably, our salary disputes caused Walter, Austin, and Thuy Trang (who played Trini Kwan, the Yellow Ranger) to leave the show. However, the franchise didn’t become unionized until 2018, following Hasbro’s acquisition. Fortunately, Austin and Walter have since returned to the franchise and received fair compensation.

It was disheartening to discover that the actors from this widely-popular show were undercompensated despite their significant contributions to its success. The popularity of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers can be attributed to the charisma and energy displayed by the cast members during their performances, as well as the immense support shown by fans through various merchandise like action figures, Megazords, Morpheus toys, lunchboxes, backpacks, and video games. It’s clear that the franchise profited from multiple revenue streams. However, the earnings were unfairly distributed, with the cast and crew members feeling they weren’t compensated adequately for their dedication and role in the show’s success. Fortunately, Walter and Austin remain active within the now-unionized franchise, ensuring they receive fair compensation for their continued efforts.

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2025-01-13 17:13