Round one…fight!
“Street Fighter” is back on the big screen for a new take on the popular fighting game video series that started back in arcades in the 1980s and is still popular today.
Paramount and Legendary’s live-action movie takes place in the ’90s and follows a worldwide fighting tournament that brings together challengers from around the world. The roster includes Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) and his childhood friend and training partner Ryu (Andrew Koji), who have appeared in every “Street Fighter” video game. There’s a colorful cast of fellow characters like Chun-Li (Callina Liang), M. Bison (David Dastmalchian), Cammy (Mel Jarnson), Vega (Orville Peck) and more. The cast also has several real-life martial arts fighters, WWE stars and wrestlers, like Roman Reigns as Akuma, Cody Rhodes as Guile and Oliver Richters as Zangief.
Kitao Sakurai, who’s helmed episodes of “Beef,” “Dave” and the “Eric Andre Show,” directs the movie, which previously had Danny and Michael Philippou (“Talk to Me,” “Bring Her Back) attached. It’s actually the third “Street Fighter” movie, following 1994’s self-titled film and the 2009 release “Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li.” The 1994 “Street Fighter” had a cast with 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. “The Legend of Chun-Li” was a notorious flop and included Kristin Kreuk as Chun-Li, Neal McDonough as M. Bison, Michael Clarke Duncan as Balrog and Black Eyed Peas singer Taboo as Vega.
See the full cast of the new “Street Fighter” movie and how they compare to their video game counterparts below.
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Ken (Noah Centineo)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Alongside Ryu, Ken has appeared in every single main “Street Fighter” video game. In the movie, he’s a loudmouth, washed-up celebrity who’s trying to claw his back way to fighting stardom after his childhood friend and training partner Ryu has become the world champion. Ken is known for his fireball hadoken fireball move, his Dragon Punch flying uppercut (aka the shoryuken) and his tornado kick attack. Noah Centineo plays Ken after starring in movies like “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” “Black Adam” and “Warfare.”
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Ryu (Andrew Koji)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Like Ken, Ryu is the only other character who’s been on every “Street Fighter” roster. He’s normally wearing his classic white gi, red headband and red gloves, and he has similar hadoken and shoryuken moves like Ken. They’re among the most popular characters in fighting games and have crossed over into other titles like “Super Smash Bros.,” “Marvel vs. Capcom” and more. Ryu is played by Andrew Koji, an actor and martial artist who played Storm Shadow in “Snake Eyes” and starred in “Bullet Train” and “Warrior.”
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Chun-Li (Callina Liang)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Chun-Li first appeared in “Street Fighter 2” and was one of the first female characters in any fighting game. She’s known for her kick attacks (and impressively large thighs) and her iconic blue costume. Chun-Li seeks out revenge against M. Bison after he murdered her father. Callina Liang bulked up and trained for the movie after appearing in “Presence” and “Bad Genius.”
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Cammy (Mel Jarnson)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Cammy works for the evil M. Bison as one of his agents. She was introduced in “Street Fighter 2: The New Warriors” and was the second female character added to the series after Chun-Li. Her costume has become popular among fans for her green or blue leotard, military beret and long braided pigtails. She’s played by Mel Jarnson, who also appeared in the “Mortal Kombat” movie as Nitara.
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M. Bison (David Dastmalchian)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection M. Bison is a villain and often the final boss in the “Street Fighter” games. He’s a megalomaniac dictator who rules over the Shadaloo criminal syndicate, and characters like Cammy, Vega and Juli report to him. He grows stronger from harvesting Psycho Power, and he’s often wearing a red military uniform. David Dastmalchian stars as the villain after playing equally odd characters in “The Suicide Squad,” “Dune” and “One Piece.”
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Dan Hibiki (Andrew Schulz)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Dan Hibiki is a comically weak fighter who also trained under Gouken alongside Ryu and Ken. With his pink gi, Dan later becomes a more respected and well-rounded fighter, but his moves are animated to be comedic in the video games. He’s played by comedian Andrew Schulz, who’s started appearing in more movies after growing to fame with his stand-up.
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Akuma (Roman Reigns)
Akuma is one of the most powerful villains in “Street Fighter” and the younger brother of Gouten, mentor to Ryu and Ken. He’s often the final boss in many of the games and uses dark energy to power his hadokens. WWE star Roman Reigns plays Akuma in the movie.
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Guile (Cody Rhodes)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Guile is a U.S. Air force pilot seeking revenge against M. Bison. He’s dressed in military fatigues and has an American flag tattoo, but he’s best known for his odd, flat-top blond haircut. He’s played by WWE star Cody Rhodes in his largest film role to date.
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Zangief (Olivier Richters)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Zangief is a massive Soviet wrestler known for his grappling moves, red shorts, X-shaped scars and hairy chest. He’s played by bodybuilder Olivier Richters, who stands at 7’2” and has acted in “Reacher,” “Black Widow,” “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” and fellow video game movie “Borderlands.”
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Vega (Orville Peck)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Vega is a Spanish fighter who sports a mask and razor-sharp claws in all of his appearances. He uses a mix of Japanese ninjutsu and Spanish bullfighting in his combat. He’s played by country singer Orville Peck, who’s making his film debut and is also almost always seen wearing a mask in his performances.
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Blanka (Jason Momoa)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Blanka is a green-skinned, orange-haired monster who can generate electricity and launch himself as a super-fast ball, his signature move. He’s an animalistic fighter who’s controlled by M. Bison, and Jason Momoa plays the character after appearing in films like “Aquaman,” “Dune,” “Supergirl” and “Minecraft.”
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Balrog (50 Cent)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Balrog is a boxer who enters the fighting tournament and is played by rapper, actor and business mogul Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. He wears his blue boxing outfit, but is better known for his unique hairstyle that paid homage to boxer Mike Tyson.
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Dhalsim (Vidyut Jammwal)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Dhalsim is a stretchy, Indian yogi and fighter who can contort his limbs. He’s played by Vidyut Jammwal, an Indian actor and martial artist making his American feature film debut.
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Gouken (Don Lee)
Image Credit: a Gouken is the mentor to Ryu and Ken who’s later murdered by his evil brother Akuma. He’s played by Don Lee, who’s starred in movies like “Train to Busan,” “Eternals” and many more and has a background in martial arts.
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E. Honda (Hirooki Goto)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection E. Honda is a sumo fighter played by Hirooki Goto, an actor and professional wrestler making his American feature film debut.
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Juli (Rayna Vallandingham)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Juli is one of M. Bison’s minions who’s played by actress and martial artist Rayna Vallandingham (“Cobra Kai,” “Citadel”).
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Don Sauvage (Eric Andre)
Don Sauvage is an announcer and non-playable character introduced more recently in “Street Fighter 5.” He’s played by comedian Eric Andre.
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Joe (Alexander Volkanovski)
Joe is a non-playable background character who appeared in the first “Street Fighter” game. He’s played by Alexander Volkanovski, an MMA fighter and two-time UFC champion.
