The cast of the 2026 Street Fighter movie, including actor Olivier Richters, reportedly signed contracts for three films. Richters, who stands 7-foot-2 and played Zangief, disclosed this information in a YouTube comment on October 25, explaining that the limited screen time for his character was a deliberate choice to build anticipation for future installments.
"When they asked me to play Zangief, it was all very clear. There was one goal: Show a [glimpse] of Zangief and his power, so we all want more," Richters stated. "All actors, including me, signed for three movies. ‘If a sequel is made, Zangief will shine,’ was the promise. Apart from that, you can't expect, from a two-hour movie with so many characters, for everyone to shine in the first part. But anyways, thanks for wanting to see more of Zangief!"
In the film, Zangief appears in two sequences: first, receiving an invitation to the World Warrior tournament from Chun-Li, and later engaging in a club brawl with Ken and others. Many of his in-game moves were recreated for the club fight scene, a detail noted by fans who expressed a desire to see more of the character and the World Warrior Tournament itself.
The movie's post-credits scene and abrupt conclusion indicate that the filmmakers intended it as the first part of a series. While the box office performance has been modest, grossing approximately $79 million worldwide against an $80 million budget as of October 26, its initial domestic opening weekend earnings of $51 million suggest that profitability is likely with continued theatrical runs and future streaming availability.
The cast has previously expressed enthusiasm for further Street Fighter films, with some actors also open to a crossover with the Mortal Kombat franchise.