‘Power Rangers’ Head Writer Reflects on Casting Controversy: “It Was a Mistake”

Over 30 years after its debut, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is back in the spotlight—this time for a casting decision that continues to raise eyebrows. In the new Investigation Discovery docuseries Hollywood Demons, original head writer Tony Oliver addressed the long-discussed controversy surrounding the casting of the original Black and Yellow Rangers. He now admits that it was a “mistake” to assign those roles to a Black actor and an Asian actor, respectively.

The beloved Fox Kids series premiered in 1993 with Walter Emanuel Jones playing Zack Taylor, the Black Ranger, and Thuy Trang portraying Trini Kwan, the Yellow Ranger. While fans embraced the characters, many later pointed out how their roles mirrored racial stereotypes—concerns Oliver says he and the team simply didn’t recognize at the time.

“None of Us Were Thinking Stereotypes,” Says Writer

Speaking candidly in the documentary, Oliver revealed that the implications of the casting choices didn’t hit home until much later. “None of us were thinking stereotypes,” he explained. “It was never intentional, but looking back, it was a mistake.” He says the realization only came after his assistant mentioned it during a production meeting—two seasons into the show’s run.

Oliver further explained the logic behind the initial decisions, saying that the casting team sought actors who embodied specific qualities: “The Black Ranger was written as the cool, confident one—the guy with swagger. The Yellow Ranger was more peaceful, the moral compass of the group.” The creative team cast accordingly, unaware of how the colors would be interpreted through a racial lens.

Behind-the-Scenes Footage Highlights Early Awareness

The docuseries also features rare camcorder footage from set, shot by a stunt coordinator, which shows the cast members were somewhat aware of the optics—even joking about it. In one clip, Jones says: “My name’s Walter Jones, I play Zack. I’m Black, and I play the Black Ranger—go figure.”

Thuy Trang, who tragically passed away in 2001, wasn’t even the original choice for the Yellow Ranger. That role initially went to Audri Dubois, who exited the project over a pay dispute. Trang was cast after filming had already begun and had to be edited into the existing pilot footage.

Co-Creators Say Casting Was Unintentional

Power Rangers co-creator Shuki Levy echoed Oliver’s sentiment in a prior interview, explaining that cultural differences played a role in the oversight. “It wasn’t intentional at all,” he told Complex. “At the time, Haim [Saban] and I were new to the U.S. We grew up in Israel, where skin color didn’t carry the same weight. We didn’t think about it in racial terms.”

The Legacy and Its Complicated History

While Mighty Morphin Power Rangers remains an iconic part of pop culture history, its legacy is layered. The series helped launch a global franchise and gave underrepresented communities heroes to root for—but it also sparked an ongoing conversation about how representation matters, even in children’s programming.

Oliver’s recent comments serve as a reminder of how decisions made with good intentions can still have unintended consequences. The Power Rangers team may not have been thinking about stereotypes back in 1993, but the lessons from those early casting choices continue to resonate today.