Lionsgate has moved back the releases of two of its key franchises — its first “Power Rangers” movie and its fourth and final “Divergent” film.
“Power Rangers” will move back two months from Jan. 13, 2017, to March 24, 2017, placing it in the potentially lucrative spring break period. That date had been occupied by “The Divergent Series: Ascendant,” so the Shailene Woodley sci-fier will also move back two months to June 9, 2017 — giving the last film in the series a summer playdate.
It’s the second time that “Power Rangers” movie has been moved back. Its original release date of July 22, 2016, was shifted back six months earlier this year to the January slot.
Lionsgate and Saban Brands announced the “Power Rangers” project in 2014. The studio has tapped Dean Israelite to direct and cast five young actors to star — Becky G. as the Yellow Ranger, Ludi Lin as the Black Ranger, Naomi Scott as the Pink Ranger, Dacre Montgomery as the Red Ranger and R.J. Cyler as the Blue Ranger.
The third film in the Woodley franchise, “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” is scheduled to open on March 18, 2016. The first two films — “Divergent” and “Insurgent” — have grossed nearly $600 million worldwide after opening in the late March slot. At the end of the second film, Woodley’s character Tris learned she had been part of an experiment to heal the post-apocalyptic Earth.
