In a move that has gaming and film heads alike frantically typing reactions, rising star Callina Liang has officially been cast as iconic thigh goddess Chun-Li in Legendary Pictures’ upcoming live-action adaptation of Capcom’s Street Fighter. Yes, the franchise that’s been both blessing and cursing screens since 1994 is getting yet another shot at redemption.
Liang, who’s been quietly building a killer resume with roles in Apple TV+’s Foundation, Steven Soderbergh’s critically acclaimed thriller Presence, and J C Lee’s Bad Genius, now steps into the blue qipao of arguably gaming’s most iconic female character. She follows in the spin-kicking footsteps of Ming-Na Wen and Kristin Kreuk, both of whom have worn the ox-horn hairstyle with varying degrees of success.
The film is assembling what can only be described as a fever dream of a cast. Andrew Koji (of Warrior fame) will don Ryu’s perpetually unwashed headband as the stoic fighter, while reports suggest Jason Momoa joins as the demonic Akuma. WWE’s Roman Reigns rounds out the ensemble, though his character remains under wraps according to industry sources.
Director Kitao Sakurai (known for the gleefully unhinged Twisted Metal series) took over after the originally announced Philippou brothers (Talk to Me) exited due to scheduling conflicts earlier this year. This marks the third major attempt to translate Street Fighter’s button-mashing magic to film, following the deliciously campy 1994 original starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and the regrettable 2009 Chun-Li-centric disaster.
Liang’s bilingual skills in English and Mandarin, combined with her martial arts background in Wushu and Silat, could be key to giving the film international appeal—something crucial for a franchise with global recognition. Her recent breakout performance in Presence, which earned an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, showcased her ability to blend physicality with emotional depth.
While plot details and an official release date remain under wraps, one thing’s clear: if this film doesn’t feature at least one scene of Liang absolutely destroying a car with her legs in bonus stage homage, we riot.
The production represents Legendary’s continued push into video game adaptations, following their work on Detective Pikachu, Godzilla vs. Kong, and most recently A Minecraft Movie. With Sakurai’s track record of balancing action with absurdist humor, this Street Fighter might finally crack the code of translating beloved gaming franchises to the big screen.
In the meantime, as we wait for more from the upcoming Street Fighter live action, catch Callina Liang’s acting prowess in the trailer for Bad Genius below:
Cover image via Instagram/@callina.liang.
