The cast for the upcoming Street Fighter movie is definitely a wild mix. You’ve got rising talent standing alongside seasoned action stars, a couple of WWE pros, and even a real-life sumo wrestler.
But the most intriguing choice by far? Director Kitao Sakurai’s pick for M. Bison.
In the games, Bison is a 5'11" tank built like a champion weightlifter. He’s a massive wall of muscle who easily physically towers over guys like Ryu and Ken; and that’s even before he starts enhancing himself with Psycho Power.
It's that very reason why actor David Dastmalchian, a professed longtime Street Fighter fan, was a little reluctant to sign on to portray the Shadaloo leader.
Speaking to Collider, the Ant-Man and the Wasp and Suicide Squad actor revealed his initial conversation with Sakurai, when the role of Bison was offered, stating, "'I’m not the big, imposing titan that you think of when you think of M. Bison,'" recalled Dastmalchian, of that initial phone call. According to Dastmalchian, Sakurai replied,"...that’s not the story I want to tell."
According to the scene-stealing supporting actor, the Street Fighter movie will show, "Why would people follow Bison to the depths that they do to make Shadaloo come to its fruition?...And I can’t wait for people to see how that happens.”
Dastmalchian's casting has many Street Fighter fans thinking of Raul Julia, who infamously played Bison in the 1994 Street Fighter film. While that video game adaptation left much to be desired, Julia's performance is mostly viewed as one of the few highlights.
Elsewhere, Guile actor Cody Rhodes was a recent guest on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, where the WWE superstar stated that the role is a dream come true as he played Street Fighter as a kid, particularly Street Fighter II: Turbo on the SNES.
Originally scheduled to be released in the United States on March 26, 2026, Street Fighter is now currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 16, 2026.
Set in 1993, estranged Street Fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) are thrown back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament: a brutal clash of fists, fate, and fury.
But behind this battle royale lies a deadly conspiracy that forces them to face off against each other and the demons of their past. And if they don't, it's GAME OVER!
Helmed by director Kitao Sakurai, Street Fighter is set to bring the battle from the arcade to the big screen with Hadoukens, roundhouses, and all your favorite characters.