The Kyodo news agency reported on Thursday that TV Asahi's long-running Super Sentai series will end with the currently airing No.1 Sentai Gozyuger show, which debuted on February 16.
According to Kyodo and The Sankei Shimbun, the reason the series is ending is that income earned from events, merchandise, and film adaptations was not enough to cover the production costs of the series.
Toei and TV Asahi have not officially commented on the reports as of press time.
No.1 Sentai Gozyuger is the 49th installment in Toei's franchise, and commemorates the franchise's 50th anniversary. As part of the 50th anniversary, the "All Super Sentai Exhibition" tour is being held across Japan, which started in Tokyo in August. Current and future stops include Nagoya and Sendai. NHK also recently held a poll to celebrate the 50th anniversary.
Manga creator Shōtarō Ishinomori (Cyborg 009, Kamen Rider) developed the first two Super Sentai series Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (1975) and J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai (1977) with Toei, and Toei co-produced the next two series with Marvel Comics.
The Super Sentai franchise spawned the overseas adaptation and remake franchise Power Rangers in 1993. Power Rangers marked its 30th anniversary in 2023.
Power Rangers Dino Fury, the latest series in the Power Rangers franchise, premiered on Nickelodeon in February 2021. The show's second season debuted on Netflix in March 2022. The third season, titled Power Rangers Cosmic Fury, debuted in Netflix in September 2023. Netflix streamed the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always 30th anniversary special in April 2023. 2024 marked the first year in Power Rangershistory without new or re-edited episodes.
The media news source TheWrap reported in March that Disney+ and 20th Century TV were in talks with Percy Jackson and the Olympians showrunners Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz to produce a new live-action Power Rangers series.
Sources: Kyodo, Oricon News, The Sankei Shimbun via Hachima Kikō