With only a few days left until the theatrical release of Street Fighter, and while the trailers have focused heavily on combat, special moves, and a distinct 90s aesthetic, several statements made during the premiere in Los Angeles point to another element of the film that has barely been featured in the promotion.
According to three of its stars—Noah Centineo, Jason Momoa, and Joe Anoa'i, better known as Roman Reigns—the film based on the Capcom video game saga holds a greater emotional weight than its previews have suggested so far.
This detail becomes relevant just as the film approaches its release and the marketing begins to show nuances that had not appeared in the action-focused trailers.
Noah Centineo points to emotional depth as the big surprise
Noah Centineo, who plays Ken Masters, was the one who expressed this idea most directly. The actor believes that the audience will arrive prepared for the action they already know from the previews, but he believes the real surprise will be the emotional depth of the characters.
Centineo describes the film as an experience designed to be enjoyed in a theater, to the point of joking that it would work almost without sound thanks to the power of its visuals. However, he insists that this visual spectacle should not overshadow the emotional side of the story.
In Ken's case, this approach is especially relevant. The film places Ryu, Ken, and Chun-Li at the center of the plot. According to official production notes, Ryu and Ken arrive in this story after having drifted apart, despite having grown up and trained together. It will be Chun-Li who brings their paths back together by recruiting them for the World Warrior Tournament, a competition that hides a far-reaching conspiracy.
This background allows the classic rivalry between Ryu and Ken to have narrative weight beyond the purely competitive, further supported by traditional animation sequences with which the production seeks to recover the aesthetic of the original 1990s video games.
Jason Momoa sought an unexpected side to Blanka
Jason Momoa, who plays Blanka, faces a different challenge. It is one of the most extreme designs in the franchise, with the risk of being reduced to a simple spectacular creature when translated to live-action.
The actor explains that, in addition to respecting the wild component and the character's physical presence, he also wanted to find a more tender side to Blanka. This decision arose during his own exploration of the character and had the approval of director Kitao Sakurai.
Momoa, who also serves as a producer on the project, believes that this humanity is part of the heart of the film, in a cast where visually powerful characters coexist and need to differentiate themselves beyond their attacks and costumes.
That same search for depth has been reflected in the work of Callina Liang as Chun-Li, who has explained her involvement in the role and the reinforcement of her physical training to bring the character to the screen, within a story that gives her a much more central role than usual.
Roman Reigns summarizes the balance the film seeks
The words of Joe Anoa'i, known as Roman Reigns and the performer of Akuma, complete this shared idea. The actor believes that Street Fighter works because it maintains a recognizable emotional foundation without giving up what he describes as its component of madness and exaggerated circus.
For Anoa'i, that combination is what allows for building a world of its own and offering a distinct escapist experience compared to other action productions.
The actor points directly to Ken, Ryu, and Chun-Li as the core of the film, and praises the work of Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, and Callina Liang, whom he considers three true stars. In his view, the relationship between these three characters will be one of the aspects that fans of the video games can enjoy the most.
Chun-Li's link to Shadaloo and M. Bison also provides a personal motivation to the plot, in what could become an opportunity to delve into a character that her previous solo adaptation failed to fully develop.
The cast’s statements outline a concrete proposal
During the premiere, the comments from different members of the cast began to fit together. Callina Liang has spoken of a film designed for fans and loaded with recognizable elements; David Dastmalchian has mentioned director Kitao Sakurai's insistence that the actors physically execute many of the special moves; Centineo highlights the emotional depth; Momoa seeks tenderness in Blanka, and Roman Reigns places heart and exaggeration as inseparable parts of the same proposal.
Everything points to the fact that Street Fighter does not intend to choose between fidelity to the video game and its function as a film, but rather to combine both aspects by using the classic fights and moves as a great visual spectacle, while Ryu, Ken, and Chun-Li provide the emotional backbone of a very broad cast.
This approach would also explain why Kitao Sakurai has chosen to preserve elements that other adaptations might have softened, seeking for the film to have its own personality without straying from the original material.
Street Fighter hits theaters on October 16, 2026. Its trailers have already shown much of its spectacular nature; what remains to be seen is whether it also manages to get the audience to connect emotionally with characters usually associated with health bars and special moves.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Street Fighter released in theaters?
The film hits theaters on October 16, 2026.
Who are the main protagonists of the story?
Ryu, Ken Masters, and Chun-Li are at the center of the plot, played by Andrew Koji, Noah Centineo, and Callina Liang respectively.
Which character does Jason Momoa play?
Jason Momoa plays Blanka, in addition to participating as a producer on the project.
Which character does Roman Reigns play in the film?
Joe Anoa'i, known as Roman Reigns, plays Akuma.
What is the tournament that appears in the film about?
The plot revolves around the World Warrior Tournament, in which Chun-Li recruits Ryu and Ken, while a larger conspiracy linked to Shadaloo and M. Bison hides behind the competition.
What does Chun-Li bring to the story according to the cast?
Her personal link to Shadaloo and M. Bison gives her a deeper motivation, placing her in a more central role than in previous adaptations of the character.
