Power Rangers Kimberley star - from Netflix snub to comics return
Amy Jo Johnson shot to fame as the original pink ranger in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in 1993, but she has since gone on to a very different life
Those who spent their childhood in the '90s will undoubtedly recall the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, with their vibrant costumes and thrilling showdowns against the likes of Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd. Amy Jo Johnson, who debuted as the original Pink Ranger Kimberly Hart in 1993, graced the screen in 138 episodes and three movies until her exit in 1995.
Reflecting on her first encounter with the iconic pink spandex to Entertainment Tonight last year, she said: "I think at the time it was like, 'Oh my God! I'm gonna be wearing pink spandex on national television. What have I gotten myself into?'," Bleeding Cool reported. Her character eventually left the show after passing on her powers to the new pink ranger, Katherine Hillard, though Amy did make a few special returns.
Nowadays, Amy's life might not involve morphin' battles, but it's certainly full of action. She's made her mark on TV series such as ER, Felicity, and Flashpoint, and has ventured into directing with short films like Bent in 2013 and Lines in 2014.
Her directorial debut for a feature film came with The Space Between in 2016, followed by the dark comedy Tammy's Always Dying in 2019. On top of her acting and directing pursuits, she's also a singer-songwriter, having released an EP titled Still Here just last year.
In a nostalgic nod to the past, Netflix dropped a special Power Rangers reunion episode in 2023, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always, bringing back fan-favourite characters from the franchise's three-decade legacy. However, Amy was noticeably absent from the line-up, reports the Mirror US.
Despite rumours suggesting she declined the offer due to financial disagreements, she insisted this wasn't true. On X, formerly Twitter, she said: "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...or couldn't go to NZ for a month. Or none of ur beeswax."
She also mentioned that both she and the late Jason David Frank, known for his role as the White Ranger, who died in November 2022, chose not to participate "for our own reasons". Earlier in the year, she had already tackled similar speculation, stating: "For the record I never said no... I just didn't say yes to what was offered. But other fun stuff is in-store!".
Despite stepping away from the on-screen action, Amy did make a comeback to the Power Rangers universe later in the year, albeit through a different medium. She penned a four-part comic book series called Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return, which she described as a "heartfelt love letter" to the dedicated fanbase. She continues to engage with enthusiasts at conventions, sharing experiences from her days donning the iconic pink suit.
Reflecting on her impact as a childhood hero to many, she expressed a newfound appreciation, saying: "I didn't understand what Kimberly represented until more recently." She added: "Kimberly wasn't Amy Jo, but it's really cool to have played a character that inspired so many girls in that way. It's probably one of the biggest blessings in my life."
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