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Rita Repulsa: First Look At Elizabeth Banks As The ‘Power Rangers’ Villain

By Pam Wright
Published on: 08:30 PST, Apr 19, 2016

Rita Repulsa, the infamously wonderful villain from Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, seems to have received quite the makeover for the new movie starring Elizabeth Banks as the evil villain.

Few can argue that Elizabeth Banks can play just about any role with aplomb, but her new look channeling the classic, cackling villain Rita Repulsa has got people talking, and not necessarily in a good way.

Banks, 42, signed on to play the iconic badgirl Rita Repulsa in the upcoming Power Rangers film reboot, as reported by People magazine.

“I’ve never played a villain before,” Banks told the magazine in this week’s issue. She noted that she is very much looking forward to “world domination – and being unpredictable as a character.”

In a first still from the production, Banks as Rita Repulsa is quite repulsive, covered from head to toe in a reptilian-like green getup and hair. The ensemble is accessorized with some freakishly long and menacing gold talons to add to the look.

Banks shared her thoughts on the design team’s take on Rita,

“It’s definitely a modern and edgy re-imagining of the original Rita Repulsa. We wanted to give her a backstory that connects her to the new Rangers.”

The folks at MTV weren’t too thrilled with Rita Repulsa’s makeover.

“While we’re not necessarily mad about it, it’s a little depressing to see Rita without her iconic, oversize hat and comically large staff. Not to mention, Goldar and Mordant are nowhere to be seen. (Rude.)”

The Lionsgate Power Rangers reboot is based on the classic ’90s television show that featured five teen superheroes with the easy-to-remember names of Pink, Blue, Yellow, Black, and Red Ranger, named for their superhero attire, one would assume.

Like the television show, the rangers will find themselves up against the evil, scary alien witch, Repulsa, who is hellbent on conquering planet Earth.

Banks told People she was first introduced to the series by her brother, who was a bit of a fan of the popular television show.

“It might be his favorite show of all time.”

Fans of the Power Rangers seem to be a little miffed about Rita Repula’s new look.

Today, Twitter seems to be alive with the sounds of a resounding “NO” to the revamped look. One fan fumed,

“So… that new Rita Repulsa. How about a big giant NOPE. She looks more like Poison Ivy. Where are her horns?? What is this nonsense.”

Rita Repulsa was first portrayed by the late Machika Soga, who passed away in 2006.

The Power Rangers also stars Dacre Montgomery as the Red Ranger, RJ Cyler as the Blue Ranger, Naomi Scott as the Pink Ranger, Becky G as the Yellow Ranger, and Ludi Lin as the Black Ranger.

The Power Rangers is set to hit theaters in March 2017.

(Image via MorphinLegacy.com)

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