Bill Hader to voice Alpha 5
Bill Hader has joined the growing Power Rangers cast as robot Alpha 5 Kevin Winter / Getty / Saban Entertainment / YouTube

Lionsgate's upcoming Power Rangers movie is building up quite the supporting cast, with Bill Hader becoming the latest addition, set to play helper robot Alpha 5. The Trainwreck actor joins existing cast members Elizabeth Banks, who will be seen as baddie Rita Repulsa and Bryan Cranston, who will portray the Rangers' mentor Zordon.

Hader is no stranger to lending his voice to a machine onscreen either, having been a voice consultant for BB-8 during Star Wars: The Force Awakens (alongside Parks And Recreation star Ben Schwartz). And fortunately for Hader, Alpha 5 usually has a little bit more to say than just 'beep-boops'.

While the exact plot is being kept under wraps until nearer the release date, brief synopses have offered up an idea of what's to come. Following a similar formula to the beloved 1990s television series, the movie will revolve around five high-school students, who team up to save the world after "they learn that their small town of Angel Grove – and the world – is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat."

Judging by the individual character posters, said alien threat will be a particularly villainous one too. In the artwork, the five-strong group – Naomi Scott as Pink Ranger Kimberly, RJ Cyler as Billy the Blue Ranger, Dacre Montgomery as Red Ranger Jason, Becky G as Trini the Yellow Ranger and Ludi Lin as Black Ranger Zack – were seen standing on each of their respective Zords; giant machines that each Ranger pilots during their bigger battles.

Project Almanac director Dean Israelite has helmed the film, while Power Rangers veteran Haim Saban is among the team of executive producers working on the reboot. The latest script was written by John Gatins (Real Steel), Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama (Dracula Untold), Zack Stentz and Ashley Miller (X-Men: First Class), and Max Landis (Chronicle). Principal photography began back in late February, aiming for a US and UK cinematic release on 24 March 2017.

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