It seems Nexus Point News' initial report that 50 Cent would be portraying Balrog in the upcoming live-action Street Fighter film has proved correct. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the news earlier today, although 50 Cent himself all but confirmed the casting himself, via social media.
Balrog is typically depicted as M. Bison's right-hand henchman. Not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he's incredibly lethal, despite the fact that the former heavyweight boxer only punches and has no kicks whatsoever. The character is famously modeled after Mike Tyson.
In other Street Fighter movie, news, Deadline confirmed that the franchise's ultimate joke character, Dan, will also appear in the film. He'll be portrayed by comedian Andrew Schulz (White Men Can't Jump, Tires).
Dan is Capcom’s parody of SNK’s Ryo and Robert (Art of Fighting), created during their rivalry to mock similarities to Ryu and Ken.
Sporting a pink gi and an incredibly weak “Gadoken” that barely leaves his hand, Dan is intentionally over-the-top. Despite his poor skills, he boasts endlessly about his self-made martial art, Saikyo-ryu, and runs a nearly empty dojo with questionable techniques.
Other confirmed casting for the movie includes:
- Noah Centineo as Ken
- Andrew Koji as Ryu
- WWE's Roman Reigns as Akuma
- Jason Momoa as Blanka
- Callina Liang as Chun-Li
- Orville Peck as Vega
Notable Street Fighter characters still yet to be cast include Guile, M. Bison, Cammy, Zangief, and Sagat.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, filming is scheduled to kick off this August in Australia. The project is being co-developed and co-produced by Legendary Entertainment in collaboration with Capcom, marking a major push to bring one of gaming’s most legendary franchises back to the big screen.
At the helm is director Kitao Sakurai, best known for the surreal prank comedy Bad Trip. He’ll be working from a screenplay written by Dalan Musson, whose credits include Captain America: Brave New World, signaling a blend of offbeat style and blockbuster experience behind the camera.
Capcom’s Street Fighter franchise stands tall as one of the most enduring and influential fighting game series of all time. Despite its status in the gaming world, however, Street Fighter’s live-action adaptations have left much to be desired.
The 1994 film, led by Jean-Claude Van Damme and Kylie Minogue, was met with lukewarm reviews and modest box office results, though it has since developed a devoted cult following for its campy charm. On the other hand, 2009’s Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li was a critical and commercial misfire that most fans would rather forget.
As momentum builds on this latest adaptation, be sure to stay tuned to GameFragger.com for ongoing coverage. With production just around the corner, expect casting announcements and additional details to surface in the weeks ahead.