Rangers, let’s get cooking.

….and even though I didn’t realize it when I was younger, I’m glad I did. Everyone is hopping on the Cranston train, but he’s been around for a while now. It does make me sad that I didn’t realize just how much of a fan I’ve been of his work, but it’s only because Cranston is such a good actor.

Bryan Cranston’s casting as Zordon, in the upcoming Power Rangers reboot, is just giving me another excuse to see more of this actor in his natural habitat: in front of the camera. Cranston, also a screenwriter, director and producer, is best known for portraying Walter White on the AMC’s Breaking Bad  and Hal on Fox’s  Malcolm in the Middle.  He’s also played Tim Sacksky on CBS’ King of Queens and Dr. Tim Whatley on NBC’s Seinfeld.

Cranston has won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series four times. This is the second time in television history that this has happened. Now it’s time to add another classic in the making to his long list of acting accomplishments. 

I had an epiphany moment as I went through his filmography only to be surprised by just how much of the shows I watched growing up had him in it. I would often flip between shows not knowing he was on most of them. After I’d finished watching Macross Plus, where he was Isamu in the mini-series, my family and I would sit down and watch Malcolm in the Middle. I would catch the Lilo and Stitch series to hear him as Mr. Jamieson. There were days where my mother and I would bond over murder mysteries, like Matlock and Murder She Wrote, and every once in awhile, he would pop up as a guest. Cranston was even in Kung Fu Panda 3 as Po’s Dad, so when I took my nephew to go see it, that all too familiar voice reached my ears and made me smile, knowing that I supported his career in a small way.

With Cranston’s casting he’s officially come full circle as he is already familiar with the franchise having done some voice acting for the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers as Snizzard and Twin Man. Even the Blue Power Ranger is named after the actor, with the two sharing the last name:

 

 

From childhood to adulthood most of the shows I hold near and dear to my heart, have a touch of Bryan Cranston in them. Over the years that I’ve grown, I’ve been watching him grow as an actor. With this welcome addition to the cast, I know this movie will do extremely well.

I will admit, like most people who have grown up with the Power Rangers kicking butt and taking names in Angel Grove, I did have my doubts. That’s probably because I’ve been burned by Michael Bay so many times. I will say this is shaping up to be a very interesting movie and because of Cranston, I’m now looking forward to it. He has proven himself time and time again that his acting is something special. I haven’t been disappointed yet, and I don’t think I will be this time. Now with Walter White over here getting in on the ranger action there’s no way I would miss seeing this movie.

See you at the theaters, rangers!