T5W#541-Top 5 Thoughts on the Street Fighter (2026) Reveal Trailer

2026 is shaping up to be a big year for Video Game Adaptations on the big screen.  April sees Mario and friends take to the stars in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and May will finally see the stupidly delayed sequel Mortal Kombat II tear up the screen (Bring on Kitana and Karl Urban as Johnny Cage).  Later in the year though, another recognizable franchise is getting another shot at the silver screen: Street Fighter.  Like Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter has had similar ups and downs with it’s two previous movies: the flawed but incredibly campy and fun 1994 film and the so-bad-no-one-even-talks-about it…like ever The Legend of Chun Li.  The Game Awards a couple weeks back revealed the first look the new movie and…wow, both head scratchingly wow and HOLY FRAK wow.  Is this the Live Action Street Fighter movie we’ve all been waiting for?  We’ve still got less than a year to wait but on today’s Top 5 Wednesday, I’m sharing my Top 5 Thoughts on the Street Fighter (2026) Reveal Trailer. 

 
#5-Game Accurate Costumes

Given cinemas long history of being afraid to be true to the look and feel of source material like Comic Books (i.e. X Men in all black leather), it’s surprising to see Street Fighter actually show us game accurate looks for most of its characters.  From Ken and Ryu’s iconic Gi to Dahlsim’s make up to Cammy’s blue leotard, the outfits that have made these characters instantly identifiable are all here and proud to be so.  Gotta say though, the stand out might just be Cody Rhodes as Guile, he looks like he came straight out of the Street Fighter II Animated Movie with the army fatigues and broom cut.
 

#4-The Cast

We’ve known about the cast for a while thanks to a special reveal video that showed their faces swapped in for their characters on a special Street Fighter II Character Select Screen (neat).  The trailer shows off most, if not all, of Street Fighters extensive roster of characters getting into various bouts.  And while there might not be as big a name as say Jean Claude Van-Damme back in the 90s, there’s still a ton of talent bringing this iconic cast to life.  On screen glimpses from the trailer include  Andrew Koji as Ryu, Cody Rhodes as Guile, Callina Liang as Chun Li, Rayna Vladdingham as Juli, Roman Reigns as Akuma and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Balrog, among others.  It’s a stacked assortment of action heavy actors, including professional wrestlers with Rhodes and Reigns.  Not sure we get a glimpse of Jason Momoa as Blanka but he is featured on one of the several character posters dropped alongside the trailer.
 

#3-M. Bison

There’s plenty to criticize about the 1994 Street Fighter film but one thing no one ever talks smack about is Raul Julia as M. Bison.  The legendary Addams Family actor brought gravitas and hammy fun to what would be his final performance but it was a helluva great note to go out on.  Slipping into the cape and bodysuit of Shadaloo’s Dictator is David Dastmalchian, who you might know from The Suicide Squad, Dune and Late Night with the Devil.  Like Julia, Dastmalchian isnt exactly the most physically imposing figure you’d expect from how Bison is portrayed.  However, I think his ability to bring subtle eeriness to villainous roles could give way to some Julia style over the top magic when Bison lets loose in a fight scene.  I’ll be watching this one with great interest.
 

#2-True to the Game or 90s Redux?

So the 1994 movie isnt perfect: Guile’s not American, Dahlsim’s a scientist?, the list could get long.  However, it is still a stupid funny and entertaining Video Game romp that can easily be enjoyed even if youre a Street Fighter fan.  The Reveal Trailer may look truer to the game visually but at the same time, there’s a ton of goofball energy to it.  From Eric Andre’s bouncing off the walls Don Savage to the fact that we’re gonna get a version of the bonus car crushing stage, I’d say this movie isnt taking itself 100% seriously and to me, that’s ok.  This is supposed to be a fun but truer to the source material adaptation and Street Fighter can get very weird in places.  Still, if it turns out to be half as so bad it’s good as the ’94 film, I’ll be satisfied.
 

#1-Hadouken’s Allowed?

One thing notable absent from the ’94 film was the use of signature special attacks.  Sure Guile did his jump kick and it’s implied Ryu pulled a Hadoken, but for the most part the more supernatural special moves were nowhere to be scene.  When Guile pulled that kick in the Reveal Trailer, it felt different, like it was meant to be and not a blink and you’ll miss it moment.  Same goes for Akuma going partial Dark Hadou on some poor sap (Ryu maybe?).  Point is, does this mean we’re gonna get to see Dahlsim’s limbs expand?  Will Chun Li break out her Spinning Bird Kick with those amazing legs?  And, most importantly, will we get to see Andrew Koji unleash a proper HADOUKEN!!!?  If this movie is going to be more true to form, then the answer is…hopefully?