Why The New Street Fighter Movie Might Actually Deliver

Alright, I hit play on the Street Fighter trailer expecting a mess. Like, full meme territory. And yeah, at first glance it’s loud, goofy, and very aware of how ridiculous it looks. Big poses, over-the-top energy, zero shame.

But the more it plays, the clearer it gets: this movie knows exactly what it is. It’s not apologizing, it’s leaning in. The casting feels deliberate, the action looks built for spectacle, and suddenly you’re not laughing at it anymore.

So yeah, it looks wild. But wild doesn’t mean bad. Let’s talk about why this might actually go hard.

Casting Report Card: Energy Over Convention

The trailer’s cast is wild in the best, loudest sense of the word — a mix of actual fighters, charismatic action stars, and culture icons you’d never expect in a martial arts movie. This isn’t a boring “name your lead and get to the plot.” It’s a mixture of different flavors

Ryu — Andrew Koji
The heart of the franchise, the wandering warrior who seeks strength and clarity. Koji already has action credentials (Warrior, Snake Eyes, Bullet Train), giving him a grounded physical presence and real combat movement potential. His focused intensity could balance the zanier parts of the cast.

Ken — Noah Centineo
Ken is flash, charisma, and fire. Centineo’s pivot from rom-com charm to action star has already begun (and he teased his role with a ripped, game-accurate transformation online). His performance could anchor much of the film’s emotional heart and rivalry with Ryu — if he carries it beyond looks.

Chun-Li — Callina Liang
The poster girl of Street Fighter. Liang brings athletic grace and a young screen presence that could redefine Chun-Li for modern audiences, blending tough grit with emotional weight.

Blanka — Jason Momoa
Momoa is a screen force with raw physicality and unexpected comedic flair. Playing a mutated electric powerhouse is wild, but he owns physically absurd roles — so this could be surprisingly memorable.

Akuma — Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i
Akuma is pure destructive force. Reigns’s intimidating presence and intensity from WWE could help give Akuma a formidable real-world aura, turning what could’ve been cartoonish into genuinely menacing.

Guile — Cody Rhodes
A pro wrestler turned actor, Rhodes has both athleticism and stage presence. Guile’s military discipline and stoicism might be a perfect fit for Rhodes’s blend of seriousness and bravado.

M. Bison — David Dastmalchian
One of the most iconic villains in gaming. Dastmalchian has played unsettling characters (The Dark Knight, Suicide Squad), so his Bison could be chilling and theatrical — exactly the larger-than-life tyrant the role demands.

Balrog — Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson
As the brash, heavyweight brawler, 50 Cent’s tough persona fits like gloves on a boxer — he feels like someone who could actually throw the punches and make them land.

Dhalsim — Vidyut Jammwal
An Indian martial artist playing one of the spiritual fighters in the roster. Jammwal’s real-world combat discipline could lend Dhalsim authentic mystic movement.

Zangief — Olivier Richters
The “Dutch Giant” is literally built for this: an imposing physical presence perfect for Street Fighter’s Russian wrestling powerhouse.

Vega — Orville Peck
The masked, flamboyant assassin gets a captivating choice in Peck — a performer with a mystique that fits Vega’s theatrical style.

Dan Hibiki — Andrew Schulz
Dan is comic relief by design. Casting a comedian suggests the movie isn’t shying away from the franchise’s own goofs — and Schulz could make Dan genuinely funny instead of irritating.

E. Honda — Hirooki Goto
A sumo legend on screen. Goto’s athletic background should add legitimacy to this larger-than-life character.

Cammy — Mel Jarnson
A seasoned martial artist actress who can bring Cammy’s speed and precision to life.

Juli — Rayna Vallandingham
A trained fighter and actress familiar with combat choreography, adding grit to Bison’s Doll ranks.

Joe — Alexander Volkanovski
A real-world combat ace (UFC champion), throwing an authentic fighter into the mix — even in a smaller role, this adds layers to the fight sequences.

Marvin — Kyle Mooney
An unexpected name — but Mooney’s comedic background could make the character memorable, adding unpredictable energy to the roster.

Why This Cast Could Actually Deliver

1. Real physicality
Between pro wrestlers, MMA fighters, and martial artists, this isn’t a bunch of actors pretending they can fight — many actually can. That can translate to fight choreography that feels visceral and authentic.

2. Intentional diversity of performance styles
You’ve got dramatic actors, physical action stars, comedians, and musical performers blending to reflect the varied tone of the games — a spectrum from serious warriors to cartoon-level flair.

3. Source material respect
From character fidelity to the 1993 setting (a nod to Street Fighter II lore), this feels less like it’s making fun of its roots and more like it loves them — and that can make all the difference.

4. Ensemble chemistry potential
With so many distinct personalities, the movie has the room to surprise — a grounded Ryu vs Ken rivalry, a chilling Bison, explosive side characters, and the right measure of humor without derailing the core action.

Why it Could Be Fire (Not Just Meme-Fuel)

1. It owns its energy
The trailer doesn’t apologize for camp. It embraces the game’s absurdity instead of trying to shoehorn Street Fighter into a grim, brooding blockbuster mold. That’s honest — and when adaptations treat their source as sacred cartoon chaos instead of something dour, it often resonates with fans.

2. Moves over seriousness
The glimpses of action — car getting stomped on, gravity-defying strikes, character bursts — look like they understand Street Fighter’s kinetic burstiness, not a watered-down martial arts flick.

3. Ensemble grit + absurdity
Sure, some actors are out of left field. But in a world where a masked claw fighter and a green electric monster exist, giving space for distinctive personalities instead of one dull lead could be a strength. If the ensemble chemistry clicks, it could feel like a weird, lovable riff on what a fighting game movie should be.

So … Comically Silly or Secretly Solid?

If your baseline for video game movies is high art, this feels wild. If your baseline is fun adaptation energy — capturing that *pop-off button-mashing joy and oddball crew dynamic — the trailer suggests this movie might actually stick the landing in its own style.

Not everything will be seamless — some cosplay-energy outfits and wirework might be divisive — but there’s genuine intent here: not to make a somber drama, but to make something that looks like Street Fighter felt in the arcade and in our hearts.

Final Verdict: Could absolutely be fire — not only because its possibility of being true to source material, but because it looks alive, relentlessly characterful, and unafraid to lean into the crazy world it’s adapting.

Image credit Legendary Pictures, Capcom