IGN visited the set of the upcoming Street Fighter film in Sydney, meeting cast and crew including stars Callina Liang (Chun-Li), David Dastmalchian (Bison), and Ken Masters actor Noah Centineo, alongside stunt coordinator Jon Valera and director Kitao Sakurai. The visit revealed a dedicated production aiming to bring the iconic fighting game to life with a serious commitment from its ensemble.
A Dream Come True for Chun-Li
Callina Liang, who plays Chun-Li, spoke about her lifelong connection to the character. "I literally grew up playing the game, so as soon as my managers told me about the project I was, like, so excited," Liang said. She addressed concerns about her physique, noting that her grandmother always encouraged her, saying, "Oh hey, you got little fat legs!" and that playing Chun-Li helped her overcome insecurities. The role, she feels, is a "dream come true."
Mythic Proportions and Serious Business
Director Kitao Sakurai views the Street Fighter characters as a "pantheon of modern day mythological heroes," drawing parallels to Greek mythology. While not a hardcore gamer himself, Sakurai recognized the characters' deep cultural imprint, likening them to iconic figures in world culture. David Dastmalchian, portraying Bison, expressed his admiration for the cast's commitment, highlighting the dedication of actors like 50 Cent, Orville, and professional athletes within the ensemble. "Every single person who’s shown up that I’ve gotten a chance to either watch work, or work with, has taken this seriously the way I do," he stated.
Iconic Moves Authentically Recreated
Stunt coordinator Jon Valera confirmed that the film features the franchise's signature moves, with actors performing them themselves. "We try and stay true to the game, try and bring the actual iconic moves to life," Valera explained. "We haven’t needed any digi-doubles or anything; all the guys are doing the iconic moves from the game."
Noah Centineo, who takes on the role of Ken Masters, described the experience as a departure from his previous work, involving extensive martial arts training. "We were here training for six weeks before we ever said, ‘Action!’" Centineo shared, emphasizing the choreography involved, which he likened to "dancing that looks like fighting."
Centineo recalled his early childhood encounters with Street Fighter II, often playing as Blanka or Dhalsim. "Those were my two favourite characters; I just thought they were sick," he said.
Honoring the Legacy of Bison
Dastmalchian acknowledged the significant impact of Raul Julia's performance as Bison in the 1994 film, his final role. "I wanted to carry a sense of honour for that, and honour it by doing the best job I can do," Dastmalchian said, aiming to embody the character while bringing his own interpretation to the role as requested by director Kitao Sakurai. He hopes audiences will see Bison and forget the actor, and potentially even Julia's portrayal for a moment. His children serve as his "very, very honest critics," and he awaits their verdict.
Fan Reception as the Ultimate Victory
For Centineo, the film's success hinges on its reception by the game's fanbase. "I hope that people see it, and the people that have grown up playing the game, and still play the game and love the game and live by the game, watch the movie and go, ‘Yeah, they did the game justice,’" he stated. "They respected the game; they respected our world, and we appreciate that." He also hopes the film will be enjoyed by those less familiar with the source material, calling it "a great movie and it was a cool world, and I wanna see more of that."
IGN's review of the film notes an "infectious and celebratory energy" but cautions that it "never lets good sense get in the way of a good time."