It's been announced today that Legendary Entertainment has secured an exclusive license to the live-action film and television rights for the iconic Capcom video game franchise Street Fighter.
Any upcoming projects will be co-developed and produced in conjunction with Capcom, including the feature film that's currently in development. We don't have any additional details on that project right now, but we're sure this news will be welcomed by longtime fans of the franchise.
Since Street Fighter's launch in 1987, the series has sold over 49 million units worldwide, becoming one of the most well-known and highest-grossing video game franchises of all time.
The franchise continues to spearhead the industry in delivering innovative design and hard-hitting gameplay as the leader in the fighting game genre. The next chapter in the storied franchise, Street Fighter 6, is set to be released on June 2, on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Along with films based on original IP, Legendary has a successful track record for adaptations, including leading video game franchises. Recent titles include the six Academy Award-winning Dune, not to mention multiple entries in its cinematic Monsterverse, and movies like Detective Pikachu and Enola Holmes.
Hollywood has attempted to adapt Street Fighter in the past, including a 1994 movie that bombed. It starred Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kylie Minogue, Ming-Na Wen, and the late Raul Julia among others, while a 2009 effort - Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li - featuring Smallville alum Kristin Kreuk also flopped.
Video game movies have found greater success in recent years and, if done right, we're sure this version will turn Street Fighter's fortunes around. The games are immensely popular and fans have been waiting a long time for a good movie...here's hoping it fares better than Mortal Kombat, anyway!
Are you excited to see Street Fighter back on the big screen? Let us know in the comments section.