History Trivia / VrTroopers

* CreatorBacklash: Creator/SarahBrown doesn't look back on her time on the show fondly -- and for good reason: She'd met her ex-husband, co-creator Shuki Levy, while on the former and during their relationship, he'd physically abused her and Brown also stated that Haim Saban and his wife Cheryl were complicit in the abuse.

* TheOtherMarty: Creator/JasonDavidFrank was originally set to play Adam Steele in the unaired ''Cybertron'' pilot while Creator/BradHawkins was cast as the White Ranger, possibly named Rocky, on ''Power Rangers''. Saban realized that replacing Frank on ''Power Rangers'' was too risky so Frank returned to the show as Tommy in the role of the White Ranger and Hawkins stepped into the ''Cybertron'' role, renamed Ryan Steele. A second pilot was then made which featured Professor Hart being played by an Einstein-esque Caucasian. (The name Rocky ended up being reused for for the second Red Ranger in ''MMPR''.)

** Originally a vehicle for former Green Ranger Creator/JasonDavidFrank, a short pilot using footage from the ''Series/MetalHeroes'' series ''Series/ChoujinkiMetalder'' called ''Cybertron'' was filmed with him alone. However, his immense popularity as Tommy led to Saban deciding to pull him back to ''Rangers.'' As such he switched places with Creator/BradHawkins (who was originally supposed to be the White Ranger during the second season of ''MMPR,'') who became Ryan Steele. This alone led them to believe the show was beyond hope, but because of commitments to broadcasters, they had to press on.

** Saban originally conceived the show as a vehicle for Creator/JasonDavidFrank. However, the [[EnsembleDarkhorse runaway popularity]] of his ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' character Tommy led to their bringing him back to ''MMPR'' as the White Ranger and recasting the lead role in ''VRT' with Creator/BradHawkins, who had originally been going to play the new White Ranger. Creator/JamieKennedy also had an early role.

** The video game, which was released for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis and UsefulNotes/GameGear, was going to have a version for the [[Platform/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super Nintendo]].

** The video game, which was released for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis and UsefulNotes/GameGear, was going to have a version for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super Nintendo]].

** Originally a vehicle for former Green Ranger Creator/JasonDavidFrank, a short pilot using footage from the ''Series/MetalHeroes'' series ''Series/ChoujinkiMetalder'' called ''Cybertron'' was filmed with him alone. However, his immense popularity as Tommy led to Saban deciding to pull him back to ''Rangers.'' As such he switched places with Brad Hawkins (who was originally supposed to be the White Ranger during the second season of ''MMPR,'') who became Ryan Steele. This alone led them to believe the show was beyond hope, but because of commitments to broadcasters, they had to press on.

** Saban originally conceived the show as a vehicle for Creator/JasonDavidFrank. However, the [[EnsembleDarkhorse runaway popularity]] of his ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' character Tommy led to their bringing him back to ''MMPR'' as the White Ranger and recasting the lead role in ''VRT' with Brad Hawkins (who was originally going to play the new White Ranger). Creator/JamieKennedy also had an early role.

* TheOtherMarty: Creator/JasonDavidFrank was originally set to play Adam Steele in the unaired ''Cybertron'' pilot while Creator/BradHawkins was cast as the White Ranger on ''Power Rangers''. Saban realized that replacing Frank on ''Power Rangers'' was too risky so Frank returned to the show as Tommy in the role of the White Ranger and Hawkins stepped into the role, renamed Ryan Steele. A second pilot was then made which featured Professor Hart being played by an Einstein-esque Caucasian. (The name Rocky ended up being reused for for the second Red Ranger in ''MMPR''.)

** Saban originally conceived the show as a vehicle for Creator/JasonDavidFrank. However, the [[EnsembleDarkhorse runaway popularity]] of his ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' character Tommy led to their keeping him on ''MMPR'' and recasting the role in ''VRT''. Creator/JamieKennedy also had an early role.
** The ''Cybertron'' pilot also shows that the series was originally intended to be a stand-alone adaptation of ''Metalder'', with Tao as his ally and Ziktor having a son. It was only after Jason David Frank was replaced by Brad Hawkins that the series was revamped into a team show and the ''Spielban'' footage was brought in for the two additional main characters (since Metalder was a lone hero, whereas Spielban had a costumed female sidekick). By that point, Saban was also using footage from two different ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' series for ''MMPR'' (''Zyuranger'' and ''Dairanger''). Not only that, but Hasbro nearly sued them over the use of the name "Cybertron", which is the name of the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' home planet, which might explain why ''VRT'' toys were made by then Hasbro subsidiary Kenner rather than Bandai. The Cybertron name was retained in the ending credits, listing the production company as "Cybertron Productions", in the same mold as "MMPR Productions".

* TheWikiRule: [[https://metalheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Metal_Heroes_Wiki The Metal Heroes Wiki]] covers ''VR Troopers''.

** Reportedly, Saban planned on making a third and final season to tie up all the loose ends, with ''Series/BlueSWAT'' as the intended series for adapting[[note]]''Blue SWAT'' had 3 main heroes, which would have fit the three main heroes of ''VR Troopers''[[/note]]. However, Saban reportedly did not want to alienate the existing fandom, so they instead chose to use ''Series/JuukouBFighter'', and eventually to make an entirely new series, ''Series/{{Beetleborgs}}''. [[WordOfGod Producer Robert Hughes]] has apparently gone on the record saying that, had the show continued, they would've continued combing back through all the ''Metal Heroes'' shows for usable footage. Ironically, Saban would later end up adapting the SpiritualSuccessor of ''Blue SWAT'', ''Series/KyukyuSentaiGogoV'', as ''Series/PowerRangersLightspeedRescue''.

** Once, the Swordbot Brothers even ''switched'' voice actors from the previous appearance. But it seems they never got the same VA twice, and they kept getting ''prominent'' appearances (rather than the standard "hanging out in the background in Grimlord's lair sequences 'til it's your turn as MonsterOfTheWeek" situation.) The last [[Creator/RichardEpcar voice actor]] ended up [[TalkingToHimself playing both characters]].

** While filming the show, they noticed several new problems. Alongside the fact that the ''Metal Heroes'' footage was almost a decade old (unlike ''Sentai'' footage, which is never more than a year or two old, ''Metalder'' and ''Spielban'' were from 1987 and 1986,) the shows in question also used a lot of '''unmorphed''' battles, meaning the usable footage was thin to begin with. StockFootage was abused, with the same scenes of a drill driving through the wall of an underground lab seeming to be in almost every episode. Despite all this, the show was a hit and a second season was ordered.
** The second season had the ''Metalder'' footage (Ryan's armor) run out fast, so they had him get an upgrade to new armor, this time from ''Series/SpaceSheriffShaider'', an even '''older''' series (1984). The second season limped along with its endlessly repeated StockFootage, until, by the end of the season, both ''Shaider'' and ''Spielban'' footage had run dry. [[WordofGod Per producer Robert Hughes]], bad toy sales were the defining factor in Saban giving up on ''Troopers'' and instead they bought and turned a much mroe recent ''Metal Heroes'' show, ''Series/JuukouBFighter'' into ''Series/BigBadBeetleborgs''.

* TheWikiRule: [[http://metalheroes.wikia.com/wiki/Metal_Heroes_Wiki The Metal Heroes Wiki]] covers ''VR Troopers''.

* GeniusBonus: In the scene where Doomlord and Despera are introduced in the second season, Grimlord stands up for the first time in the series. His counterpart in ''Choujinki Metalder'',God Neros, remained seated through the entirety of the series. Now that Saban had to create new footage, they decided Grimlord should be able to walk around and talk to his troops.

* TheOtherMarty: Creator/JasonDavidFrank was originally set to play Adam Steele in the unaired ''Cybertron'' pilot while Creator/BradHawkins was cast as Rocky the White Ranger on ''Power Rangers''. Saban realized that replacing Frank on ''Power Rangers'' was too risky so Frank returned to the show as Tommy in the role of the White Ranger and Hawkins stepped into the role, renamed Ryan Steele. A second pilot was then made which featured Professor Hart being played by an Einstein-esque Caucasian. (The name Rocky ended up being reused for for the second Red Ranger in ''MMPR''.)

* DawsonCasting: Ryan Steele was called "an 18-year-old martial arts instructor" in a promo video and Creator/BradHawkins was 20 when the show began.

** The second season had the ''Metalder'' footage (Ryan's armor) run out fast, so they had him get an upgrade to new armor, this time from ''Space Sheriff Shaider'' (an even '''older''' series). The second season limped along with its endlessly repeated StockFootage, until, by the end of the season, both ''Shaider'' and ''Spielban'' footage had run dry. [[WordofGod Per producer Robert Hughes]], bad toy sales were the defining factor in Saban giving up on ''Troopers'' and instead they bought and turned a much mroe recent ''Metal Heroes'' show, ''Series/JuukouBFighter'' into ''Series/BigBadBeetleborgs''.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The show's premise is essentially 'virtual reality can create anything,' but even beyond that, at one point the characters bemoan the fact that they cannot contact one another at any time, being dependent on pay phones and landlines, resulting in a specific piece of tech being created for them, the [=VR-VTs=]. The complete lack of cell phones place the show blatantly in the early nineties.

* CreatorBacklash: Creator/SarahBrown doesn't look back on her time on the show fondly — and for good reason: She'd met her ex-husband, co-creator Shuki Levy, while on the former and during their relationship, he'd physically abused her and Brown also stated that Haim Saban and his wife Cheryl were complicit in the abuse. This ultimately resulted in her quitting acting.

* TheOtherMarty: Creator/JasonDavidFrank was originally set to play Adam Steele in the unaired ''Cybertron'' pilot while Crewator/BradHawkins was cast as Rocky the White Ranger on ''Power Rangers''. Saban realized that replacing Frank on ''Power Rangers'' was too risky so Frank returned to the show as Tommy in the role of the White Ranger and Hawkins stepped into the role, renamed Ryan Steele. A second pilot was then made which featured Professor Hart being played by an Einstein-esque Caucasian. (The name Rocky ended up being reused for for the second Red Ranger in ''MMPR''.)

** The second season had the ''Metalder'' footage (Ryan's armor) run out fast, so they had him get an upgrade to new armor, this time from ''Space Sheriff Shaider'' (an even '''older''' series). The second season limped along with its endlessly repeated StockFootage, until, by the end of the season, both ''Shaider'' and ''Spielban'' footage had run dry. They bought up a '''fourth''' ''Metal Heroes'' series, ''Series/JuukouBFighter,'' but rather than run the risk of alienating kids by overhauling ''everything'' at once (''Series/PowerRangersZeo'' hadn't happened yet, so Saban wasn't sure if a complete visual overhaul would work; until that point, even though ''Rangers'' got new zords each season, the suits were still the same familiar ones from ''Zyuranger''), they gave up on ''Troopers'' and instead turned ''B-Fighter'' into ''Series/BigBadBeetleborgs.''

** Reportedly, Saban planned on making a third and final season to tie up all the loose ends, with ''Series/BlueSWAT'' as the intended series for adapting[[note]]''Blue SWAT'' had 3 main heroes, which would have fit the three main heroes of ''VR Troopers''[[/note]]. However, Saban reportedly did not want to alienate the existing fandom, so they instead chose to use ''Series/JuukouBFighter'', and eventually to make an entirely new series, ''Series/{{Beetleborgs}}''. Ironically, Saban would later end up adapting the SpiritualSuccessor of ''Blue SWAT'', ''Series/KyukyuSentaiGogoV'', as ''Series/PowerRangersLightspeedRescue''.

* CreatorBacklash: Creator/SarahBrown has [[https://twitter.com/sarahjoybrown/status/1176220824430186496?s=19 said]] the reason why she stopped acting along with refusing to attend {{fan convention}}s is that co-creator (and then-fiancé) Shuki Levy was physically abusive to her and that Haim Saban and his wife Cheryl were complicit in such a thing.

* DawsonCasting: Ryan Steele was called "an 18-year-old martial arts instructor" in a promo video and Brad Hawkins was 20 when the show began.

* TheOtherMarty: Creator/JasonDavidFrank was originally set to play Adam Steele in the unaired ''Cybertron'' pilot while Brad Hawkins was cast as Rocky the White Ranger on ''Power Rangers''. Saban realized that replacing Frank on ''Power Rangers'' was too risky so Frank returned to the show as Tommy in the role of the White Ranger and Hawkins stepped into the role, renamed Ryan Steele. A second pilot was then made which featured Professor Hart being played by an Einstein-esque Caucasian. (The name Rocky ended up being reused for for the second Red Ranger in ''MMPR''.)

* CreatorBacklash: Kaitlin's actress Creator/SarahBrown does not have fond memories of her time on this show and [[https://twitter.com/sarahjoybrown/status/1176220824430186496?s=19 claimed]] the reason why she stopped acting along with refusing to attend conventions related to ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' and ''VR Troopers'' is that co-creator (and then-fiancé) Creator/ShukiLevy was physically abusive to her and that Haim Saban and his wife Cheryl were complicit in such a thing along with telling fans to boycott them[[note]]Levy is no longer involved in ''Power Rangers'', having left after the Disney acquisition of Fox Family and the Fox Kids library, which included this show, while Saban's involvement has been reduced since Creator/{{Hasbro}}'s acquisition of Saban Brands[[/note]] and the franchise because of this.

* RomanceOnTheSet: Sarah Brown was briefly engaged to the show's executive producer Shuki Levy and the couple had a child together in 1998; [[MayDecemberRomance Levy is 28 years older than Brown]]. Their relationship ended on acrimonious terms, as Brown [[https://m.twitch.tv/videos/486894304 claimed]] in a 2019 interview that Levy was physically abusive towards her, along with attempting to kidnap their daughter and attempting to murder her by setting their house on fire.

* CreatorBacklash: Kaitlin's actress Sarah Brown does not have fond memories of her time on this show and [[https://twitter.com/sarahjoybrown/status/1176220824430186496?s=19 claimed]] the reason why she stopped acting along with refusing to attend conventions related to ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' and ''VR Troopers'' is that co-creator (and then-fiancé) Shuki Levy was physically abusive to her and that Haim Saban and his wife Cheryl were complicit in such a thing along with telling fans to boycott them[[note]]Levy is no longer involved in ''Power Rangers'', having left after the Disney acquisition of Fox Family and the Fox Kids library, which included this show, while Saban's involvement has been reduced since Creator/{{Hasbro}}'s acquisition of Saban Brands[[/note]] and the franchise because of this.

* CreatorBacklash: Kaitlin's actress Sarah Brown does not have fond memories of her time on this show and [[https://twitter.com/sarahjoybrown/status/1176220824430186496?s=19 claimed]] the reason why she stopped acting along with refusing to attend conventions related to ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' and ''VR Troopers'' is that co-creator (and then-fiancé) Shuki Levy was physically abusive to her and that Haim Saban and his wife Cheryl were complicit in such a thing along with telling fans to boycott them[[note]]Levy is no longer involved in ''Power Rangers'', having left after the Disney acquisition of Fox Family and the Fox Kids library, which included this show, while Saban's involvement has been reduced since Hasbro's acquisition of Saban Brands[[/note]] and the franchise because of this.

** Meanwhile, Kenner reused molds from other toylines to fill out the VRT toy lineup- the "VR Skyborg" [[http://actionfigureadventures.blogspot.com/2013/09/jail-bird-speeder-skyborg-jet.html was recycled from]] the ''[[WesternAnimation/{{COPS}} COPS n' Crooks]]'' line (where it was the "Jailbird Speeder"), while the "VR Pursuit Jet" was an [[http://www.toyarchive.com/Aliens/Prototypes/DropShipSmallTestShot1.html unused mold]] from the cancelled ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' toyline- which in turn had began back in 1986 as the [[http://www.yojoe.com/vehicles/86/firebat/ Cobra Firebat]] from ''Franchise/GIJoe'' (Creator/{{Hasbro}} having bought Kenner in 1991).

** The second season had the ''Metalder'' footage (Ryan's armor) run out fast, so they had him get an upgrade to new armor, this time from ''Space Sheriff Shaider'' (an even '''older''' series). The second season limped along with its endlessly repeated StockFootage, until, by the end of the season, both ''Shaider'' and ''Spielban'' footage had run dry. They bought up a '''fourth''' ''Metal Heroes'' series, ''Series/JuukouBFighter,'' but rather than run the risk of alienating kids by overhauling ''everything'' at once (''Series/PowerRangersZeo'' hadn't happened yet, so Saban wasn't sure if a complete visual overhaul would work; until that point, even though ''Rangers'' got new zords each season, the suits were still the same familiar ones from ''Zyuranger''), they decided to finally chuck ''Troopers'' in the bin and instead turned ''B-Fighter'' into ''Series/BigBadBeetleborgs.''

* RomanceOnTheSet: Sarah Brown was briefly engaged to the show's executive producer Shuki Levy and the couple had a child together in 1998; [[MayDecemberRomance Levy is 28 years older than Brown]]. Their relationship ended on acrimonious terms, as Brown [[https://m.twitch.tv/videos/486894304 said]] in a 2019 interview that Levy was physically abusive towards her, along with attempting to kidnap their daughter and attempting to murder her by setting their house on fire.