The classic video game seriesStreet Fighteris getting an all-new live-action movie adaptation from Legendary Entertainment, and there are a ton of exciting updates. Developed by Capcom and debuting back in 1987, theStreet Fighterfranchise is perhaps the most beloved fighting game of all time and helped to popularize the genre throughout its six main installments. The concept of the game is rather simple and pits players against one another in one-on-one duels. Outside the main games,Street Fighterhas spawned countless spinoffs and sequels across multiple gaming platforms.
The lucrative video game franchise quickly blossomed into other forms of media, andStreet Fighterwas expanded into comic books, animated series, and even a live-action feature film in 1994.Street Fighterfeatured an all-star cast including Jean-Claude Van Damme and Raúl Juliá, but is generally considered one ofthe worst video game moviesof all time despite maintaining a cult following. Various other attempts to bring the franchise to life in live-action have fallen under the radar, but Legendary Entertainment’s acquisition of the film and TV rights means another major studio will take a stab atStreet Fighter.
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Casting A Street Fighter Movie In 2024: Which Actor Plays Every Main Character
A prospective Street Fighter adaptation needs to bring together a cast that can feature well in action scenes while retaining the game’s vibrant edge.
The Street Fighter Movie Latest News
The Street Fighter Movie Loses Its Release Date
Just a few months after the video game adaptation landed its new director, the latest news confirms thatStreet Fighterhas lost its release date. Originally, Sony Pictures had the movie penciled in for a March 2026 release, but it has now unexpectedly been removed from that spot.The film hasn’t been rescheduled yet, and Sony hasn’t given a reason for their decision. This move doesn’t bode well for the long-gestating project, though it doesn’t mean the movie is canceled either.
The likeliest reason for the decision is that theStreet Fightermovie can’t be delivered by the original date. This means thatthe film is probably going to undergo an extensive creative overhaul, especially with director Kitao Sakurai taking over for the departingPhilippou brothers. While this might be somewhat disheartening news, it does confirm that Sony is committed to delivering the best product possible, and an extended wait might help saveStreet Fighterfrom repeating the mistakes of previous adaptations.
The Philippou brothers departedStreet Fighterto focus on their 2025 horror film,Bring Her Back.
The Street Fighter Movie Is Confirmed
The Video Game Movie No Longer Has A Release Date
Positioning itself as the new hotbed for IP-related movies and shows,Legendary Entertainment snatched up the film and TV rights forStreet Fighterin April 2023. Withvideo game movies finally starting to turn a profit, and films likeThe Super Mario Bros. MovieandFive Nights at Freddy’sbecoming blockbusters, the fighting game franchise is a hot commodity. With that in mind, Legendary quickly placed its newStreet Fightermovie on the schedule, originally penciling it in for a theatrical release on August 23, 2025.
Unfortunately,that date was eventually rescinded, and the movie has been taken off the release calendar for now. TheStreet Fightermovie has largely seemed to stall in the development phase. The Philippou brothers were originally slated to helm the project, but have since departed to focus on their horror films. Though it took a few months, Legendary finally snagged a new director when they hired Kitao Sakurai (Bad Trip). It’s unclear how much the project will change under Sakurai’s vision, since nothing is really known about Legendary’s approach to the video game.
The Street Fighter Movie Story Details
Nothing Is Known About The Film’s Story
While the aforementionedMortal Kombatis known for its bloody kills and over-the-top violence,Street Fighterhas always been a bit more cartoonish and fun
Perhaps the trickiest part of adapting aStreet Fightergame into a movie is finding the right story to tell. After all, the franchise is somewhat loose on plot and puts all of its effort into amazing fighting mechanics and smooth gameplay. With that said, it’s totally unknown how Legendary’sStreet Fighterwill dream up a story, thoughit will likely involve the annual tournament that serves as the game’s framework. The classic characterRyu is the most logical candidate to serve as the movie’s protagonist, and he’s been the face of the franchise since 1987.
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Much like the recentMortal Kombatmovie,Street Fighterwill need to find a way to modernize the classic franchise without stripping away too much of what makes fans love it. While the aforementionedMortal Kombatis known for its bloody kills and over-the-top violence,Street Fighterhas always been a bit more cartoonish and fun. That tone is crucial to the movie’s success, but Legendary will need to walk a fine line to avoid the pitfalls of the previous live-actionStreet Fighteradaptation.
