The Story: Back to 1993

Set in 1993, estranged Street Fighters Ryu and Ken Masters are thrown back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament — a brutal clash of fists, fate, and fury. But behind this battle royale lies a deadly conspiracy that forces them to face off against each other and the demons of their past. 

Unlike the 1994 film — which sidelined Ryu and Ken in favor of Guile — both Ryu and Ken will serve as the main leads of the movie, representing a far more game-accurate direction for the plot. 

A Cast Unlike Anything You've Seen Before

This is where things get wild. The massive cast features: Noah Centineo as Ken Masters, Andrew Koji as Ryu, Jason Momoa as Blanka, Roman Reigns as Akuma, Callina Liang as Chun-Li, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson as Balrog, Andrew Schulz as Dan Hibiki, David Dastmalchian as M. Bison, Cody Rhodes as Guile, Vidyut Jammwal as Dhalsim, Eric André as Don Sauvage, Orville Peck as Vega, Olivier Richters as Zangief, Hirooki Goto as E. Honda, Mel Jarnson as Cammy, and Rayna Vallandingham as Juli. 

Yes — that's a WWE Champion, an Aquaman, a rap legend, and a stand-up comedian all sharing the same fighting tournament. The casting is audacious, divisive, and completely unforgettable.

The Villain: David Dastmalchian as M. Bison

Of all the casting choices, one stands head and shoulders above the rest. David Dastmalchian is poised to step into Raul Julia's boots rather easily — a devout nerd already living the dream with starring roles in major genre franchises. 

The original M. Bison from the 1994 film, played by the late Raul Julia, remains one of cinema's greatest campy villain performances — immortalized by the legendary line "For me, it was Tuesday." Dastmalchian, known for his intense and magnetic screen presence, has the range to honor that legacy while bringing something entirely new to the role.

The Director: From Twisted Metal to Hadoukens

Kitao Sakurai previously directed Bad Trip and the Twisted Metal series  — making him a natural fit for a project that needs to balance insane action, humor, and genuine heart. His experience with video game adaptations on Twisted Metal gives him a unique understanding of what fans actually want from these properties.

Capcom's own Takayuki Nakayama — director of both Street Fighter 5 and Street Fighter 6 — visited the set and spent time with the cast and crew, later stating: "I think they've managed to accomplish something very difficult in a really smart way."  When the man who makes the actual games says that, it's worth paying attention.

A Rocky Road to October

The film was originally scheduled for March 20, 2026, by Sony Pictures, but was removed from the release schedule after Legendary's deal with Sony expired in November 2024. In September 2025, it was confirmed that Paramount Pictures would distribute the film as part of a new three-year deal with Legendary. 

The directorial path was equally turbulent. Brothers Danny and Michael Philippou were initially in talks to direct the film in April 2023, but dropped out in June 2024 to focus on Bring Her Back. Kitao Sakurai was then hired in February 2025. 

Faithful to the Games — Finally

The costume designs signal a deep respect for the source material: Guile, Blanka, Dhalsim and Ken have appearances based on their Street Fighter II: The World Warrior designs, while M. Bison, Cammy and Juli draw from the Street Fighter Alpha series. Chun-Li sports a sleeveless outfit taking influence from both the Alpha series and her iconic Street Fighter II costume. 

The Verdict: Cautious Optimism

Street Fighter (2026) arrives at the perfect moment — when the world has proven, through Mortal Kombat, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Arcane, that video game adaptations can genuinely be great. The casting is bold, the Capcom involvement is reassuring, and the director has real genre credibility.

Whether Jason Momoa as a green electricity-throwing wild man named Blanka works on screen remains to be seen. But one thing is certain — on October 16, 2026, nobody will be bored.

Round One. FIGHT.