You know that rush when a video game adaptation starts feeling real—too real, almost, like it's daring you to believe it won't flop? That's me scrolling through these fresh Street Fighter set photos from Sydney. Production kicked off last week, and already the leaks are flowing: a silhouetted Cody Rhodes as Guile, Noah Centineo channeling Ken Masters' cocky vibe. But then—bam—Orville Peck pops up as Vega, that blonde mane and makeshift mask hiding his face, flexing next to Callina Liang's Chun-Li in her casual black tee. Peck's not showing his real mug, of course; guy's got that mystery persona locked down, so this leather eye-cover? Probably just for the snap, not the final claw-wielding flair. Gorgeous. Goofy. Intriguing all over again.
Shift to Andrew Koji—our Ryu, looking grounded amid the circus—with comedian Andrew Schulz as Dan Hibiki, who's out there training in a video that's equal parts hilarious and committed. Schulz throwing punches, dodging, all while the Sydney sun beats down; you can practically hear the grunts. And Liang nearby, headband on, posing like she's ready to kick through a brick wall. It's casual gear mostly—no full costumes yet—but the energy? Palpable. Reminds me of those early Mortal Kombat sets back in the '90s, where the absurdity of fighters coming to life felt electric, yet fragile. One wrong move and it crumbles.
Andrew Koji with Alexander Volkanovski and his Street Fighter costars, Andrew Schulz & Callina Liang
— Andrew Koji Archives (@koji_archives) August 25, 2025
via Schulz's IG pic.twitter.com/stEKqtkdpX
This cast, though—whew. David Dastmalchian as M. Bison? That's the horror alum bringing some Polka-Dot Man menace to the dictator role. Jason Momoa hulking out as Blanka, Roman Reigns as Akuma, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson stepping in as Balrog. Even Hirooki Goto from New Japan Pro-Wrestling as E. Honda, and Vidyut Jammwal stretching into Dhalsim. It's a melting pot: WWE champs, rap icons, indie darlings. Director Kitao Sakurai—known for his wild comedy edge in Bad Trip—helming from Dalan Musson's script. No plot details out there, mind you; everything's locked tight. But filming in Sydney? That's got a fresh, down-under grit to it, far from the glossy Hollywood backlots.
Me? I'm split. Loved the original game's pixelated chaos as a kid—those fireballs, the cultural mashup of fighters from everywhere. Sci-fi mutations like Blanka, horror-tinged bosses like Bison. Comic-book cinema's my jam, and video game flicks are finally hitting strides post-Sonic, post-Last of Us. But wrestlers in spandex? Musicians clawing walls? It could soar—or crash like the '94 Van Damme mess. Excited, yeah. Skeptical, absolutely. The training clips hint at real effort, though; Schulz isn't phoning it in.
Anyway—where was I? Oh, the delays. Originally slated for March 20, 2026, but yanked from the calendar back in March this year. No new date yet, so we're all just hanging, scrolling for more leaks. Festival buzz? Too early, but imagine this dropping at Comic-Con or TIFF—pure pandemonium.
Vega's Mystery Mask
Orville Peck's personal face-cover in these set photos isn't the final Vega look—thank goodness—but it teases a flamboyant take on the narcissistic fighter that's got fans buzzing with cautious optimism.
Chun-Li's Casual Confidence
Callina Liang strikes a playful pose in her Street Fighter tee, hinting at a fierce yet fun Chun-Li; her chemistry with Peck already screams epic showdown potential.
Dan Hibiki's Training Grind
Andrew Schulz's video shows him drilling moves with real sweat equity, turning the comic relief character into something surprisingly dedicated—could this be the breakout underdog?
Ryu's Steady Presence
Andrew Koji hangs with the crew, looking every bit the stoic warrior; his martial arts background from Warrior might just ground this ensemble in authentic fight cred.
The Eclectic Ensemble
From Cody Rhodes' Guile tease to Jason Momoa's Blanka promise, this cast mixes pro wrestling brawn with acting chops— a risky recipe that echoes the game's global fighter flair.
Blanka and Beyond: Waiting Game
With Momoa, Reigns, and 50 Cent in the mix, the monster mutations and boss battles loom large; but with the release delayed indefinitely, patience is the real special move here.
What grabs you most about these Street Fighter set photos—the masks, the muscles, or the mayhem potential? Drop your thoughts below; let's geek out while we wait for more.
