Street Fighter 2026

What Is Street Fighter 2026?

Street Fighter 2026 is an upcoming live-action reboot of Capcom’s legendary fighting game series, set to hit theaters in 2026. A collaboration between Legendary Pictures, Sony, and Capcom, the film aims to succeed where previous adaptations stumbled.

It’s the third major cinematic take on the franchise, following the 1994 Van Damme-led Street Fighter and the 2009 Legend of Chun-Li, both of which underperformed at the box office. Legendary acquired the rights in April 2023; the logo unveiled in mid-2024 harks back to classic game aesthetics

Release Date & Production Timeline

Originally slated for March 20, 2026, the movie was pulled from Sony’s schedule in March 2025 but is expected to hit theaters later in 2026. Director Kitao Sakurai (of Bad Trip and Peacock’s Twisted Metal) took charge in early 2025 after the Philippou brothers exited. Filming is planned for Atlanta in Fall 2025.

Star-Studded (and Wild!) Cast

The cast reads like a championship roster—some dramatic, some surprising:

Andrew Koji as Ryu: the disciplined martial artist on a global quest.
Noah Centineo as Ken: the flashy, fiery rival to Ryu.
Jason Momoa as Blanka: the jungle warrior with green skin and electric shocks.
Roman Reigns as Akuma: the imposing, supernatural fighter—WWE star leveling up.
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Balrog: the heavyweight fighter modeled after Mike Tyson.
Cody Rhodes as Guile: the all-American fighter whose look mirrors his WWE persona.
Callina Liang as Chun-Li: law enforcement officer taking the fight to Shadaloo.
Orville Peck as Vega: the masked Spanish matador assassin.
Andrew Schulz as Dan Hibiki: the comedic martial artist with big swagger but few skills.
David Dastmalchian as M. Bison: the sinister Shadaloo dictator

Critics note the eclectic mix—some see it as “stunt casting,” others appreciate the raw charisma.

🕹️ Why the Reboot Could Finally Hit the Mark

Genre Comeback: The success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and HBO’s The Last of Us signals renewed appetite for well-done video game adaptations.
Fresh Direction: Sakurai’s comedic-action perspective deviates from past superhero-style directors—promising unique energy.
Legendary’s Track Record: With hits like Detective Pikachu and Warcraft, Legendary brings infrastructure and experience in bridging games to film.
Nostalgia Meets Modern Flair: It maintains nods to the games while casting unexpected actors with dedicated fanbases (e.g., WWE and rap fans).

What We Still Don’t Know

Actual release date: After pulling from the calendar, the 2026 window remains vague.
Plot details: No official synopsis, though Shadaloo and Bison are confirmed as central antagonists.
Tone balance: Unsure how the humor, martial arts, and action will mesh, especially with comedic elements from Schulz and Sakurai’s comedic background.

FAQ – Street Fighter 2026

Q: When will Street Fighter 2026 be released?
A: It’s expected in 2026, previously set for March 20 but now delayed without a firm date.

Q: Who is directing it?
A: Kitao Sakurai, known for Bad Trip and Peacock’s Twisted Metal, took over in early 2025.

Q: Is this a sequel?
A: No—it’s a full reboot, not connected to the 1994 or 2009 films.

Q: Who has been cast so far?
A: Lead cast includes Koji (Ryu), Centineo (Ken), Momoa (Blanka), Reigns (Akuma), 50 Cent (Balrog), Rhodes (Guile), Liang (Chun‑Li), Peck (Vega), Schulz (Dan), and Dastmalchian (M. Bison).

Final Thoughts

With powerhouse production backing, a risky yet captivating cast, and a director unafraid to lean into the absurdity and energy of Street Fighter, this reboot could break the curse of its predecessors. Still, the lack of narrative or tone details means fans are exercising cautious optimism.

If Legendary can match the nostalgia and martial artistry of the games while delivering a cohesive, character-driven story, Street Fighter 2026 might just deliver the knockout punch cinema-goers have been waiting for.