9 Street Fighter Characters The 2026 Movie May Fail to Adapt

by

As a longtime Street Fighter fan, I’m really excited about the new movie, but also pretty nervous! Let’s be honest, Hollywood hasn’t exactly had a great track record with Street Fighter adaptations. They’ve tried twice before, and both times were… well, let’s just say they didn’t go well. So, naturally, I’m hoping this one will finally get it right!

The Street Fighter games don’t usually have complicated storylines; what people really love are the characters. Everyone has their personal favorites and opinions on who’s the coolest or most interesting. The new movie won’t include all the popular characters, but many of the long-time fan favorites will appear, and fans are naturally worried about how this new adaptation will turn out.

9. Dan Hibiki

Will The Joke Translate To The Screen?

One of the most amusing additions to the cast of the Street Fighter movie is Dan Hibiki. Not every fighter needs to be a powerful winner, and Dan is the ideal underdog character from the game’s history. He’s famous for being overly confident despite being a weak fighter. He also mistakenly believes he avenged his father’s death and later started his own dojo based on his unique fighting style.

Comedian Andrew Schulz is playing the character Hibiki in a new movie. While it’s likely a small, funny role, many fans (including me!) are worried the joke might fall flat. Schulz is a funny guy, but Hollywood hasn’t always done a great job adapting things from video games, so there’s no guarantee it will work out.

8. Blanka

Jason Momoa’s Safe Hands

I’m honestly a little worried about how they’ll handle Blanka, but I think he’s probably in pretty good hands. It’s so cool they’ve cast Jason Momoa as the Brazilian beast! My only real concern is that Jason isn’t Brazilian himself, but honestly, most of us fans are totally on board with this casting choice anyway. He’s just perfect for the role, regardless!

Jason Momoa excels at playing wild, untamed characters, as evidenced by roles like Lobo in the upcoming Supergirl movie. However, Blanka from Street Fighter is deeply rooted in Brazilian culture – he was even once ranked among the most recognizable Brazilians globally, despite being a video game character! This strong cultural connection is what makes casting Momoa in the role potentially problematic.

7. Akuma

WWE Meets Hollywood

Roman Reigns commands attention as a WWE performer – he’s exactly the type many fans would picture playing Akuma. While he’d be a natural fit, he doesn’t have much acting experience, and there’s talk he might play the main villain in the upcoming Street Fighter movie. This has fans concerned, as Reigns certainly looks the part, but it’s unclear if he can deliver a convincing performance.

Look, as a fan, it’s tough when Hollywood casts someone for a role you’ve imagined differently. All we can really do is wait and see how it turns out. But honestly, I’ve been watching Roman Reigns dominate in WWE for years, and I think he’s got the chops to nail this character. Still, I get why some fans are a little worried, and I’m right there with them, hoping it all works out!

6. Chun-Li

Looking Good So Far

Chun-Li is arguably the most popular character in the Street Fighter series, and many fans are excited to see her in the new movie. It’s still uncertain if Callina Liang, the actress playing Chun-Li, will be able to deliver a convincing performance, as she’s new to both action and acting roles.

With just a few acting credits under his belt, this movie is a crucial step for Liang as he tries to establish himself in Hollywood. The trailer featured a lot of his character, Chun-Li – showing her gathering fighters, playfully interacting with Cammy, and performing impressive action sequences. Everyone’s hoping the film will be a big hit, both for the iconic character who’s been beloved for decades, and for Liang as a rising action star.

5. Dhalsim

An Ability Tricky To Adapt

It’s become clear from past attempts that bringing stretchy superpowers to the big screen is a real challenge, as seen with previous Fantastic Four movies. Dhalsim, a character from Street Fighter, is known for his incredibly flexible limbs, which he uses in battle. Beyond his powers, he’s a spiritual yogi who fights in tournaments to help his struggling village – a quality many fans appreciate. As a longtime fan, I was both thrilled and a little worried to see him appear in the trailer for the new Street Fighter movie.

Dhalsim presents a real challenge for a live-action adaptation. Beyond the problematic stereotypes of his backstory, his stretching powers are hard to portray convincingly in a fight. It’s unclear if the movie will downplay his abilities, use them for comedic effect, or take them very seriously. However, casting Indian actor and martial artist Vidyut Jammwal as Dhalsim is exciting and a bit nerve-wracking for fans like me – we’ll be watching closely to see how they handle this character.

4. Cammy

Will She Be Done Justice?

For a long time, female video game characters were often included simply as eye candy. While Cammy started out that way, she’s grown into a much more complex and well-developed character. Her backstory, revealed in Killer Bee, and her current goals have given her depth, making her a compelling fighter with a rich story.

It’s still uncertain if the upcoming Street Fighter movie will do justice to the character. The trailer showed her mainly using a bazooka and making critical comments about Chun-Li’s appearance. While Mel Jarnson has experience with fighting game adaptations, having been in the 2021 Mortal Kombat film, her performance in the recent movie “Killer Whale” left me with some doubts. It’s yet to be seen if she can successfully portray this famous character in Street Fighter.

3. Guile

Another Wrestler Leaping To Hollywood

It’s common for professional wrestlers to transition into acting – stars like The Rock and Hulk Hogan have done it before. Cody Rhodes, the current WWE Champion, recently started exploring this path with a small, funny role in the new Naked Gun movie with Liam Neeson. Now, he’s landed a bigger opportunity, taking over the role of Guile in a live-action adaptation, previously played by Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Subscribe for in-depth Street Fighter cast breakdowns

Want nuanced takes on the Street Fighter movie cast? Subscribe to the newsletter for character-by-character analysis of casting choices, adaptation pitfalls, and how iconic moves and origins may translate to film – essential context for any fan judging this adaptation.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The trailer suggests they’re playing up Guile’s intimidating personality for laughs in the new movie, which sounds fun. However, since the actor playing him, Rhodes, hasn’t had much screen time before, it’s a risky move. I’m optimistic, but many fans, like me, are worried this comedic take on the character might not quite land.

2. Ken Masters

Does He Have Main Character Energy?

The trailer for the Street Fighter movie shows Ryu looking fantastic, but Ken Masters is a bit more questionable. While Noah Centineo could be a breakout star in the role, he doesn’t have much action movie experience, and his previous attempt at a comic book character, Atom Smasher in Black Adam, wasn’t very well received. This leaves many fans unsure if he’s the right fit for Ken.

I didn’t used to be a fan of Noah Centineo, based on his earlier Netflix roles like in ‘The Perfect Date’. But he’s really impressed me with more recent performances, particularly his lead role in ‘The Recruit’. I’m looking forward to seeing him in ‘Street Fighter’, and his portrayal of a down-on-his-luck Ken Masters looks really interesting. The trailer shows he has great comedic timing, especially during his quick fight with Ryu. Masters seems like a resilient character who can take a beating and keep going, which could make him a breakout role for Centineo – if it’s a good fit.

1. M. Bison

A Terrifying Presence With Unusual Casting

It’s too early to say how the casting will turn out. Raul Julia famously played M. Bison in the 1994 Street Fighter movie, delivering a memorable and exaggerated performance. Now, some fans are concerned that David Dastmalchian, known for his comedic roles in films like The Suicide Squad and Ant-Man, might not be right for the character or convincingly portray a skilled street fighter.

Okay, so M. Bison isn’t really built like a total tank in the games, but with this movie having so many big names playing these over-the-top characters, getting his look right is gonna be tough. Dastmalchian is seriously talented – I thought he was fantastic in Late Night With The Devil and showed he can do drama really well. But honestly, like a lot of fans, I’m still a little hesitant about him playing a major villain, especially if the rumors about the story are true.

Read More

2026-05-11 17:41