Back in the early ’90s, being crammed in a bustling arcade, with the glow of a Street Fighter II cabinet pulling you in like a magnet, was just an ordinary weekend excursion. Capcom’s Street Fighter defined those days, and now Legendary Pictures and Capcom are throwing punches again with a live-action reboot set for March 2026. The cast—Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as the brutal Balrog, Callina Liang as the fierce Chun-Li—is as wild and varied as a tournament lineup, promising a film that’s got the guts to go all-in.
Liang, a 25-year-old Canadian actress, has been making waves with her roles in Steven Soderbergh’s supernatural thriller Presence and the high-octane high school drama Bad Genius. Liang’s Chun-Li will reportedly take a lead role, possibly centering the story around her quest for justice as an Interpol officer seeking revenge for her father’s death at the hands of Shadaloo’s nefarious leader, M. Bison.
- Features artwork inspired by the original street fighter ii ce arcade cabinet
- Co/vs technology allows for head-to-head play by linking two devices (co/vs cable included)
- Joystick and action buttons use mechanical switches for added accuracy and classic feel
Then there’s Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Balrog, the Mike Tyson-esque boxer who serves as M. Bison’s hulking enforcer. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news, and 50 Cent himself seemed to confirm it with an Instagram post sharing a Nexus Point News article about his involvement. Jackson, no stranger to the big screen with roles in Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and the Power series, brings a larger-than-life presence that fits Balrog’s brash, punch-first-ask-questions-later vibe.
The rest of the announced cast is equally eclectic, starting with Andrew Koji (Warrior, Snake Eyes) playing Ryu, the stoic wandering warrior with a penchant for fireballs. Noah Centineo (The Recruit) is set to portray Ken, Ryu’s cocky American rival, while Jason Momoa (Aquaman) takes on Blanka, the electrified green beast from the Brazilian jungle. Roman Reigns (Hobbs & Shaw), the WWE superstar, will take on Akuma, the demonic martial artist obsessed with the Satsui no Hado. Alan Ritchson, the guy who’s been flexing his way through Reacher, is reportedly stepping into Guile’s boots. You know Guile—that iconic, flat-topped soldier who throws Sonic Booms like nobody’s business.
Behind the camera, we’ve got Kitao Sakurai calling the shots. If you’ve seen his work on Bad Trip or The Eric Andre Show, you know he’s got a knack for unhinged chaos. That’s a promising sign for a Street Fighter movie, which needs to lean into the games’ larger-than-life feel.
Filming’s set to kick off in August 2025, but what the plot will actually be is still a mystery. Will we get a globe-trotting fight fest centered on the classic Street Fighter tournament? Or maybe a deep dive into Chun-Li’s quest to take down Shadaloo’s crime syndicate? Fans are already throwing out theories, and I’m just hoping for a Hadoken or two to light up the screen.
[Source]
