Legendary Pictures has chosen the fighters for its upcoming live-action Street Fighter film adaptation, and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is the latest addition to the roster. The rapper-turned-actor will play muscular boxer Balrog, and according to sources, is currently in training to do his own stunts for the production.
Joining him is country singer Orville Peck as Vega, alongside Jason Momoa (Aquaman) as Blanka, The Recruit star Noah Centineo as Ken, and Callina Liang (Presence) as Chun-Li. WWE superstar Roman Reign, or Joe Anoa’i, and Andrew Koji (Warrior) are also entering the ring as Akuma and lead brawler Ryu, respectively, rounding out an eclectic ensemble cast.
Kitao Sakurai (The Eric Andre Show) helms the project, which begins production this August in Australia. While plot details remain under wraps, it is expected to follow the same premise as its 1987 arcade game, revolving around a tournament organised by M. Bison, the leader of the evil organisation Shadaloo.
News of the live-action Street Fighter movie first broke in April 2023, with Danny and Michael Philippou of Talk to Me fame originally set to direct. However, scheduling conflicts saw the brothers exit the project, with Sakurai taking over the reins. It was initially slated for release on 20 March 2026, but has been delayed indefinitely.
It remains to be seen how the film will bring the beloved legacy to the big screen, following the commercial and critical flop of Steven E. de Souza’s 1994 adaptation. Jean-Claude Van Damme and Raul Julia starred in this iteration, accompanied by supporting performances by Byron Mann, Damian Chapa, Kylie Minogue, Ming-Na Wen, Wes Studi, and more.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
