Wait, Vidyut Jammwal Is Playing Dhalsim? Yeah… That Tracks
Look, casting Dhalsim was always going to be a headache.
He's not just a fighter—he's a fire-belching, skull-necklace-wearing yoga mystic who floats into battles and then apologizes for winning. You can't phone this one in. You can't just slap body paint on a background extra and call it a day (lookin' at you, early-2000s adaptations).
So when I heard Vidyut Jammwal—yes, Commando Vidyut—was stepping in?
I raised an eyebrow. Then I raised the other.
And then, weirdly… I nodded.
Because for once, Hollywood didn't cast someone “spiritual looking.”
They cast someone who could break your sternum with a single backflip.
Jammwal's Casting Feels Earned, Not Random
For those not clued into Indian action cinema (understandable—Hollywood doesn't exactly hand out subtitles willingly), Jammwal is not your average Bollywood pretty boy.
He's a Kalaripayattu-trained martial artist with actual fight chops. The man moves like a snake that's late to a meeting. Speed, precision, balance—all of it. He made a name off raw, mostly wire-free stunts in the Commando trilogy. And get this—he reportedly turned down multiple offers from the West over the years, waiting for something that wasn't “Generic Henchman #3” or “Gas Station Monk.”
So yeah, when he finally agrees to make his Hollywood debut as Dhalsim—you pay attention.
There's intentionality here. From him. From the casting team. From whoever had the guts to say:
“Let's not screw this one up.”
So Who's Actually In This Thing?
You'd think they were casting The Avengers of Street Fashion. It's wild:
- Andrew Koji as Ryu (decent call—he's got stoic face down cold)
- Noah Centineo as Ken (uh… sure? We'll circle back on that)
- Callina Liang as Chun-Li
- David Dastmalchian as M. Bison (weird, but I trust the chaos)
- Jason Momoa as Blanka (expect lightning, grunts, and conditioner)
- 50 Cent as Balrog (boxing meets vitamin water, maybe?)
- Roman Reigns as Akuma (because of course)
- Orville Peck as Vega (actually perfect—don't ask me why)
Oh—and Andrew Schulz is playing Dan. Which… might be brilliant? Or unwatchable.
We'll see.
Production kicks off next month in Australia, though Sony's now pulled the original March 20, 2026 release date. So, who knows when we're actually seeing this thing. But with Kitao Sakurai (Bad Trip, The Eric Andre Show) directing and Dalan Musson (Captain America: Brave New World) writing… well, it's not gonna be dull.
Could be genius. Could be a trainwreck. Maybe both.
Why Jammwal As Dhalsim Actually Makes Sense (Even If It Shouldn't)
Dhalsim's never been a “crowd favorite,” let's be honest. He's always felt… kinda adjacent.
Like, everyone picks Ryu or Ken or Chun-Li, and Dhalsim's just over there levitating in the corner. Cool design. Great lore. Weird hitbox.
But part of that mystery is why he matters. He's calm in a game about chaos. His power isn't rage—it's restraint. He's the guy who can kill you, but doesn't want to.
And that's where Jammwal really fits in.
He doesn't just punch hard. He carries stillness.
Even in his action scenes, there's this laser-focused presence.
It's rare. You can't teach it.
And honestly, it's the exact thing Dhalsim needs if this movie wants to avoid becoming just another loud, CGI-choked punch-fest.
But Let's Not Pretend This Is a Slam Dunk
Yeah, Jammwal's a strong match. But the rest of the project?
Still a question mark.
The tonal whiplash of this cast (Dastmalchian and 50 Cent in the same room?)… the unpredictable directing style of Sakurai… the sheer baggage of Street Fighter as a franchise—
This thing has every ingredient to either absolutely crush or go full Double Dragon (1994).
Also, no word on Sagat yet. Or Cammy. Or Zangief.
Which means we might still be in for some very strange casting news.
(I swear if they cast Logan Paul as Zangief, I'm out.)
Final Thought: Weird Choice. Right Choice. Probably.
I don't usually root for game-to-film adaptations. I've been burned too many times. (Max Payne. DOA. Hitman. Both of them.)
But this one?
This one has a pulse.
Not because it's flawless—but because it knows it can't play safe.
And casting Vidyut Jammwal as Dhalsim—
that's a risk I respect.
Whether the movie delivers or not…
this casting choice alone shows someone's thinking outside the Hadouken box.
