Paramount and Legendary are returning to the arcade era with a brand-new live-action adaptation of the iconic Capcom video game franchise "Street Fighter." Directed by Kitao Sakurai, known for his work on "Beef," "Dave," and "The Eric Andre Show," the 1990s-set film centers on an international fighting tournament that brings together combatants from across the globe. The project previously had filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou attached before Sakurai took the helm to bring the classic characters back to the big screen.
Centineo and Koji Headline the Core Rivalry
The central storyline focuses on the dynamic between longtime franchise mainstays Ken Masters and Ryu, who stand as the only characters featured in every single mainline video game. Noah Centineo takes on the role of Ken, reimagined in the film as a loudmouth, past-his-prime celebrity attempting to battle his way back to fighting prominence. Centineo, known for "To All the Boys I've Loved Before," "Black Adam," and "Warfare," brings to life Ken's classic move set, including his signature shoryuken Dragon Punch, hadoken fireballs, and tornado kicks.
Selected Cast and Characters in 'Street Fighter'
| Actor | Character Role | Background / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Noah Centineo | Ken Masters | Star of 'Black Adam' and 'Warfare' |
| Andrew Koji | Ryu | Martial artist; starred in 'Warrior' and 'Bullet Train' |
| David Dastmalchian | M. Bison | Dictator and leader of Shadaloo syndicate |
| Callina Liang | Chun-Li | Previously appeared in 'Presence' and 'Bad Genius' |
| Roman Reigns | Akuma | WWE superstar; plays Gouken's villainous brother |
| Cody Rhodes | Guile | WWE superstar in military pilot role |
| Jason Momoa | Blanka | Star of 'Aquaman' and 'Dune' |
| Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson | Balrog | Rapper, actor, and producer |
| Orville Peck | Vega | Country music artist making feature film debut |
| Olivier Richters | Zangief | 7'2" bodybuilder and actor ('Reacher', 'Black Widow') |
| Alexander Volkanovski | Joe | Two-time UFC champion and MMA fighter |
| Don Lee | Gouken | Star of 'Train to Busan' and 'Eternals' |
Opposite him is Andrew Koji as Ryu, Ken's childhood friend and training partner who has achieved world champion status. Koji, a martial artist and actor with prominent roles in "Warrior," "Bullet Train," and "Snake Eyes," suits up in Ryu's classic white gi, red headband, and red gloves. Their teacher, Gouken, is portrayed by martial artist and actor Don Lee ("Train to Busan," "Eternals"), whose character is ultimately slain by his brother, Akuma.
Wrestling Royalty and Combat Sports Champions Join the Roster
The production has leaned heavily into professional wrestling and combat sports talent to round out its roster of physically imposing contenders. Current WWE powerhouse Roman Reigns steps into the role of Akuma, Gouken's villainous younger brother who commands dark energy in combat. Fellow WWE star Cody Rhodes takes on the role of Guile, the military pilot seeking vengeance who is recognized by his flat-top blonde haircut and American flag tattoo, marking Rhodes' largest cinematic role to date.
Beyond professional wrestling, two-time UFC champion and mixed martial artist Alexander Volkanovski makes an appearance as the classic background combatant Joe. The heavyweight lineup further expands with 7-foot-2 bodybuilder and actor Olivier Richters, who portrays the scarred Soviet grappler Zangief, while Japanese professional wrestler Hirooki Goto makes his American feature film debut portraying the sumo wrestler E. Honda. Martial artist and actor Vidyut Jammwal also makes his American feature debut as Dhalsim, the contorting Indian yogi.
Villains, Challengers, and Musician Crossovers
Heading the antagonistic faction is David Dastmalchian as the megalomaniacal dictator M. Bison, leader of the Shadaloo syndicate who commands Psycho Power. Operating under his influence are several recognizable fighters, including Cammy, portrayed by "Mortal Kombat" alumna Mel Jarnson, and Juli, played by "Cobra Kai" martial artist Rayna Vallandingham. Jason Momoa portrays the animalistic Blanka, an electric-powered beast under Bison's control, while Callina Liang bulked up to portray Chun-Li, the franchise's original female hero who is driven by vengeance for the murder of her father.
The tournament roster also incorporates notable talent from music and comedy. Masked country singer Orville Peck makes his film acting debut as the claw-wielding, masked Spanish fighter Vega. Hip-hop artist Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson steps into the boxing boots of Balrog, sporting the character's signature blue gear and Mike Tyson-inspired style. Meanwhile, stand-up comedian Andrew Schulz portrays the comically weak Dan Hibiki, and comedian Eric Andre portrays tournament announcer Don Sauvage, a character adapted from "Street Fighter 5."
Revisiting Franchise Cinematic History
The upcoming release marks the third live-action cinematic take on the video game property. The original 1994 film featured Jean-Claude Van Damme as Guile, Ming-Na Wen as Chun-Li, Damian Chapa as Ken, Byron Mann as Ryu, and Kylie Minogue as Cammy. A subsequent 2009 reboot, "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li," starred Kristin Kreuk alongside Neal McDonough as M. Bison, Michael Clarke Duncan as Balrog, and Taboo as Vega, but suffered a notoriously poor critical and box-office reception.
With Paramount and Legendary mounting the new 1990s-era adaptation, the production recently kicked off its theatrical presence, earning $4 million in preview screenings as it enters widespread release.
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Source: Variety
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