Paramount and Legendary unveiled the debut full-length trailer of their live-action Street Fighter film at CinemaCon, showcasing a nostalgic and intentionally campy interpretation of the popular fighting game franchise against the backdrop of the early 1990s.
Directed by Kitao Sakurai and slated for a release date of October 16, 2026, the movie revolves around the characters Ken Masters, Chun-Li, and Ryu, as their paths intersect at the World Warrior Tournament, a prestigious global competition for top-tier fighters. The setting is in 1993, during the peak cultural era of Street Fighter II.
The cast encompasses various periods of the franchise, with Andrew Koji portraying Ryu, Noah Centineo as Ken Masters, and Callina Liang as Chun-Li. Notable characters such as Akuma, Dhalsim, Cammy, and Vega from the initial two mainline games and Street Fighter Alpha series also make appearances.
Incorporating direct nods to the games, the trailer showcases Ken destroying a car, reminiscent of Street Fighter II’s bonus stages, and Ryu executing a Hadoken fireball. The visuals are accompanied by the song “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes, enhancing the film’s self-aware campy ambiance.
Furthermore, the storyline delves into a tournament-centered conspiracy plot. M. Bison is portrayed by David Dastmalchian, with wrestlers Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns, along with Eric Andre and Orville Peck, also part of the ensemble.
This movie marks the initial outcome of Paramount’s distribution agreement with Legendary Pictures, spanning three years.