This week: The original Red Ranger talks about introducing the team to a new generation, playing alongside fans, and the connection that has kept the franchise alive for more than 30 years.
Austin St. John has spent more than three decades watching Mighty Morphin Power Rangers find new audiences in unexpected places.
Fortnite may be one of the biggest yet.
The original Rangers have officially entered a game played by millions of people, including Austin’s own children. His oldest son even congratulated him on finally making it.
Austin has never played Fortnite, but that has not stopped him from asking the important questions. Does he get the Power Sword? Can he call a Tyrannosaurus? Is he allowed to lead the team? Most importantly, can the original Red Ranger take on Dr. Doom?
Power Rangers Just Reached Another Generation
Austin understands how large Power Rangers remains in the United States, but the size of the international fandom still surprises him.
When he travels through Southeast Asia or Latin America, the crowds can be several times larger than the ones he meets at home. Fans in those countries do not always have the same access to conventions, cast appearances, or merchandise, which makes a global game like Fortnite especially meaningful.
It gives longtime fans another way to connect with the original team while introducing Jason, Zack, Trini, Billy, and Kimberly to players who may not have grown up watching the series.
The fact that they’re bringing in the original Power Rangers 30 years later shows the staying power of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Austin’s middle son is already a Fortnite player, while Austin’s own gaming experience mostly involves an old handheld Power Rangers game from the 1990s. Moving from a slow, two-dimensional Jason to a modern battle royale is going to require a little adjustment.
The Actors Helped Keep the Fandom Alive
The conversation quickly moved beyond Fortnite and into why Mighty Morphin Power Rangers continues to matter after so many years.
The characters and merchandise are part of the answer, but so are the actors who continue showing up for fans.
Austin has signed alongside performers from some of the largest franchises in entertainment. He has also watched fans leave celebrity tables disappointed because the person they admired treated the interaction like an obligation.
After seeing that happen, Austin decided he never wanted anyone leaving his table with that feeling.
Behind every cast and behind every character is the man or the woman who played it.
For fans, meeting the person behind a childhood hero can strengthen the memory or damage it. Austin knows he often has only a few seconds to make sure the experience becomes something worth remembering.
That care has helped Power Rangers remain personal instead of becoming another old television show that people vaguely remember watching.
The Original Red Ranger Already Has a Plan
Austin may not know the controls yet, but he knows exactly what he wants once he enters the game.
He wants the Power Sword, the Blade Blaster, and every other piece of Red Ranger equipment available. He wants to know whether he can lead an entire Ranger team or if he will be fighting alone.
He was also very interested to learn that defeated players drop equipment, which could potentially allow the Red Ranger to collect weapons belonging to other characters.
That excitement is what makes the Fortnite crossover fun. Austin is discovering the game at the same time many longtime Ranger fans are returning to it, while younger players may be meeting the original team for the first time.
He is ready to give it a shot. He just needs the fans to explain which buttons to press.
Which Ranger skin are you using first, and what advice would you give Austin before his first match? Share your tips in the comments, then watch the whole video here to hear his full reaction to Power Rangers joining Fortnite.