Why Street Fighter's Real MMA Fighters and Wrestlers are Key to Success

1994's Street Fighter is far from the peak of video game adaptations. Despite this, it's become an iconic piece of film history for one reason, and one reason only: Raul Julia.

While everyone else was trying to give a more serious performance, Julia went full camp and helped make the movie not just watchable, but at times, enjoyable.

Look, I'm fully aware that the movie has a following, but let's be honest here; it's nothing to write home about. It's important for a video game film adaptation to stick to a lane, and more often than not, that lane should be camp. I mean, we live in a world where the Super Mario Galaxy movie, which is essentially 98 minutes of jingling keys at the screen, is about to gross a billion dollars at the box office.

If the way to deliver a great video game movie is to have fun with it, then 2026's Street Fighter is on the right track. The cast is one big reason why. It's not just because they're bringing the fun, but also because they're bringing the fight.

Street Fighter's Action Sequences Will Make or Break the Movie

While the franchise has received a full-fledged backstory over the years, it's important to remember where it all began nearly 40 years ago: people fighting in one-on-one hand-to-hand combat.

Far too often, we see video game movies try too hard to adapt a "proper" story. In the process, the magic and heart of why we love these games become lost in the shuffle. It's something both The Super Mario Bros. Movie and 2021's Mortal Kombat do so well. Is there a coherent plot holding everything together? Sure, even if we're using the term "coherent plot" loosely. The important thing is that it all takes a back seat to the action happening on screen.

2021's Mortal Kombat is a far better example since, well, it's also a modern-day movie based on an iconic fighting game. One of the things the film did well to help deliver on its action pieces was cast actors with a martial arts background. Did it result in some of the acting and dialogue suffering? Sure, but we're not seeing Mortal Kombat of all things for the acting. We're seeing it for the combat and violence, and that's where it delivers, even despite its flaws.

That's one advantage Street Fighter is going to have. It's making no mistake about what it's supposed to be: a fun, over-the-top, nonsensical movie about fighting. What better way to do that than to make sure the people on screen are capable fighters? Street Fighter is able to not only have this covered, but it is also doing what it can to cover every other base as well.

Street Fighter's Choices are Letting the Cast Play to their Strengths

At the end of the day, it's important to remember that these athletes are putting on a performance. Sure, MMA is a little less sports entertainment and a little more "beat the crap out of the other person," but it's still a show for the audience. They're not just used to playing off a crowd, but thrive on their energy.

With that in mind, what better way to capture the essence of Street Fighter than by casting people with the experience of fighting for a crowd and playing off their energy? The decision to utilize WWE wrestlers is a no-brainer. Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes know all about telling a story in a ring; they were both part of one of the most iconic storylines in WWE history, culminating with Cody's victory at WrestleMania XL.

It's an intelligent casting choice that lets the people with experience on the microphone (or screen) utilize the full breadth of their talents. You want someone who can carry a fight and the mic to play Guile. You want someone who knows how to pack a punch and be morally ambiguous to play Akuma. What better choice than to tap into people who do it day in and day out for WWE? (Well, maybe not literally day in and day out if you're Roman Reigns, but that's besides the point).

Why stop there, though? Andrew Koji's martial arts background, combined with his on-screen experience (notably in Bullet Train), makes him an obvious choice to play Ryu. For many moviegoers, this is their introduction to Koji, but he's demonstrated he has the chops, with his acting talent and martial arts background, having played the lead in Cinemax's Warrior, which was based on a concept by Bruce Lee.

Add in the "background" characters being focused with that MMA background so they can steal their fighting scenes, and you have the recipe for success, as few video game movies do.

Casting Real Life Wrestlers and MMA Fighters Results in the Perfect Blend of Action and Comedy

It's that specific ability that, on paper, will help Street Fighter strike the perfect balance not just between action and comedy, but also between combat and storytelling.

If there's one thing evident from the recent trailer, it's that Street Fighter is going all-in on style, but it's also trying to pack in an emotional story that ties into the lore of the characters we know and love. I know that I hinted this isn't necessary, but Street Fighter's background does offer a little more depth than its contemporaries.

Some of its characters have more motivations than others. They have complex backstories and personal conflicts. If done right, it can make for a legitimately good story. That's the important part, though: it has to be done right. It's not just about making sure you have the right script in place, but also the right talent making the words come to life.

It's one reason why there's so much potential in Mortal Kombat II with Karl Urban's Johnny Cage joining the cast. The right actor can elevate even the worst film, just ask Raul Julia about that. It's why you want someone who can not only talk the talk, but walk the walk. Or, in this case, fight the fight. What better way to do that than with some of the very best wrestlers and MMA fighters the world has to offer?