Jason David Frank’s Final Film ‘Legend of the White Dragon’ Has Arrived, and Rotten Tomatoes Audiences Have Spoken

Few final performances carry the emotional weight of one delivered by an actor who never got to see it reach audiences. When a project becomes intertwined with grief, legacy, and years of devoted fan anticipation, its eventual release tends to feel like something closer to a tribute than a typical movie premiere.

That’s precisely the story surrounding ‘Legend of the White Dragon,’ the passion project longtime ‘Power Rangers’ star Jason David Frank spent over a decade developing before his death in November 2022. The film blends superhero action with a more grounded, character-driven story, offering a mature spin on the kind of heroics that first made Frank a household name among fans of the franchise.

Now, after years of delays and behind-the-scenes work to honor Frank’s original vision, the film has finally reached theaters, and early audience reaction has been notably positive. ‘Legend of the White Dragon’ currently holds a 79 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes based on more than fifty ratings, a strong showing for an independently produced passion project with such a long and emotional road to release.

The film follows Erik Reed, played by Frank, a once-celebrated hero known as the White Dragon who’s spent three years as a fugitive after being blamed for a devastating battle. Now forced to clear his name and protect the family he’s kept hidden, Reed must confront the mysterious Dragon Prime, played by co-director Aaron Schoenke, before the villain can carry out his own revenge.

Production on the film stretched across more than ten years, with Frank collaborating closely with Bat in the Sun’s Aaron and Sean Schoenke to build what was intended as the launchpad for an entirely new superhero universe. Following Frank’s death, the filmmakers made it their mission to complete the project exactly as he had envisioned it, ultimately requiring a second production push to finish the film in his honor.

Aaron Schoenke reflected on that responsibility shortly after the theatrical release was first announced, telling Deadline that he felt proud to have worked with such a talented actor and grateful for the chance to share Frank’s final performance with the world.

Adding to the film’s emotional resonance, Frank’s daughter, Jenna Frank, appears alongside him in the cast, a detail that’s already struck a chord with longtime fans following the project’s journey to release. The film also reunites Frank with several familiar faces from his ‘Power Rangers’ years, including Jason Faunt, Ciara Hanna, and Cerina Vincent, alongside newer additions like Mark Dacascos, Michael Madsen, and David Ramsey.

Well Go USA Entertainment ultimately acquired the film for North American distribution, releasing it in select theaters on August 28, deliberately timed to coincide with National Power Rangers Day. That scheduling choice adds another layer of significance for fans who grew up watching Frank’s Tommy Oliver evolve across multiple Ranger suits over more than two decades of franchise history.

For a project defined by loss, delay, and an unusually long road to completion, seeing ‘Legend of the White Dragon’ finally reach theaters and connect with audiences represents a meaningful conclusion to Frank’s on-screen legacy. Whatever comes next for the universe the film was designed to launch, this release stands as a fitting final chapter for the actor who spent so much of his life creating it.

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