Trivia / Space Squad

• Development Hell: According to director Koichi Sakamoto, Kyuranger vs. Space Squad (June 2018) is officially "Episode 1.5" of the franchise, with Episode 2 to come later. Indeed Sequel Hooks are provided both by Kyuranger vs. Space Squad and Gavan vs. Dekaranger (Episode 1). As of this day, however, Episode 2 has yet to manifest.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Space Squad began as "Ishinomori Avengers", a pitch to gather the reimagined Ishinomori characters such as Space Ironmen Kyodain, Inazuman, Bishoujo Kamen Poitrine and Akumaizer 3, whom had been introduced in Kamen Rider productions.
  • The initial draft for Gavan vs. Dekaranger had Mad Gallant be assisted by an original space ninja character before it was decided to pair him with another Metal Hero villain. Space Ninja Demost, who would resurface in Kyuranger vs. Space Squad, was considered but passed over in favor of a new version of Benikiba from Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya.
  • There were several proposals for Episode Zero before it was decided to revive Super Heroine War, an old pitch by Sakamoto, thus entailing the focus on female heroes.
  • For Kyuranger vs. Space Squad, several radical redesigns for Demost were passed over in favor of a more faithful update to the original design.
  • Coolgin, a villain from Chōjinki Metalder, was planned to appear in a sequel. He had been mentioned as having returned as an apostle of Genmakuu in Gavan vs. Dekaranger.
  • Producers and Hideaki Tsukada and Tsuyoshi Nakano concurred that Metal Hero's Rescue Police series should be incorporated into Space Squad. Draft Redder of Tokusou Exceedraft made a cameo in the Space Squad roll call seen in Gavan vs. Dekaranger, which was replayed in Kyuranger vs. Space Squad. Fire of Tokkei Winspector was teased in The Stinger of Kyuranger vs. Space Squad.
  • Writer Naruhisa Arakawa planned to include Machineman from Seiun Kamen Machineman in a sequel.
  • Sakamoto planned to utilize Blue SWAT in Space Squad. They were included in the Space Squad roll call seen.
  • Sakamoto wished to have Shun Sugata reprise his role as Bill Goldy from Tokusou Robo Janperson.
  • As expected of a tokusatsu series, and using Marvel's Avengers and DC's Justice League as a reference, Sakamoto envisioned the Space Squad fighting through the Twelve Apostles over several installments before having a final confrontation with Guru Fumein.