Casting Ryu For Street Fighter's 2026 Movie: X Actors Who'd Be Perfect

Summary

The upcomingStreet Fightermovie will have to cast an actor as the series ' most famous character , Ryu , with several promising choice useable in the innovative movie house landscape . Taking inspiration from the long - run series that began the popularity of fighting game , Legendary’sStreet FIghterhas been thin with details , having no harbinger cast or story plan at the time of writing . Deciding who to take on the famous red headband of Ryu will be one of the most authoritative conclusion the film has yet to make .

A practician of Shotokan karate and master of the shoryuken , hadouken , and tatsumaki senpukyaku , Ryu study under his master , Gouken , alongside Ken Masters before setting out on his own in search of desirable opposite . Other than just looking the part , a prospective actor appear to play Ryu will need to be able to capture his stoical , musing personality , not to observe having some tangible - world martial liberal arts experience to make the fight choreography of the series looking good . With that in mind , hopefully the newStreet Fightercan outperformthe Jean - Claude Van Damme adaptation .

Street Fighteralready had a previous live - military action adaption in 1994 :

8Daniel Wu

Has plenty of real world martial arts experience

It would be dopey to cast an actor with no fight skills for the titular actor ofStreet Fighter , which makes Daniel Wu such an enticing choice . cut his tooth on action pic in the Hong Kong Kung Fu movie industry alongside virtuoso like Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen , Daniel Wu made a name for himself as a authentic endowment in martial liberal arts film . Most of late , he ’s endure out as the lead of AMC ’s post - apocalyptic soldierlike arts play seriesInto the BadlandsandDisney+ ’s adjustment of the indie comicAmerican Born Chinese .

Clearly able to pilot a fight - point dealership , Daniel Wu showcases his real warriorlike arts background throughout the breathless fighting ofInto the Badlands . He ’s also well - versed in video game flick act , lending his gift to 2016’sWarcraftas well as 2018’sTomb Raider . avowedly , Daniel Wu ’s specialty is Kung Fu rather than the amalgamated full - contact karate used by Ryu in the game , but he ’s in all probability compromising enough to be able-bodied ot adapt his fighting style to the character , or at least throw out some impressive - await fireballs .

7Andrew Koji

A rising star with a flexible fighting style

Once again , the importance of Ryu ’s thespian being able to accurately portray his fighting style ca n’t be stressed enough , considering how authoritative Shotokan karate is to Ryu ’s character . Andrew Koji presents another tempting choice to wear Ryu ’s shattered gi , make a name for himself in multiple big franchises in the last ten years . FromtheFast and Furiousmoviesto G.I. Joe andBullet Train , Andrew Koji has been everywhere lately , and has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to spearhead big epithet in the action space .

With a motley background in Shaolin kung fu and taekwondo , Koji ’s expertise is just a hair nigher to Ryu ’s key signature scrap style , wowing audiences with a wide compass of moves in his many blockbuster appearances . It ’s deserving mark that Koji ’s Nipponese heritage is also a match for Ryu ’s own , and his genuine life experience as a well - traveled person could oppose Ryu ’s ever - present wanderlust in the games . With mitt - to - hand combat skill and personal appeal to part with , Koji could be up for the challenge of impart the legacy picture secret plan mascot to life .

6Noah Fleder

Could offer the film a more interesting avenue

Far from a household name , Noah Fleder is n’t a classically educate thespian , but has a unique mix of experience that just might make him double-dyed to take on Ryu . Noah Fleder is a martial artist , theatre director , and cosplayer recognise for training high-pitched - profile societal media influencers , such as Lindsey Pelas and Dolly Castro , in martial arts using his improbably wide-ranging background knowledge of training . Familiar in a litany of fighting style include Taekwondo , Hapkido , Boxing , Jeet Kune Do , Kali and Muay Thai , Fleder has more than enough experience to perform Ryu ’s moves .

Beyond this telling resume , Fleder is an esurient cosplayer , seem in several viral video which show off his power to pull off the facial expression of nerdy characters . While this experience could make him the utter individual to clothe in a game - precise Ryu rig , his other video game experience might declare oneself a fascinating new slant theStreet Fightermovie could take . Fleder is credited with apparent motion capture work in theMortal Kombatfighting game serial , meaning that rather than being resilient - action , the upcoming adaptation could employ Fleder ’s movements to pose naturalistic alive characters .

5Hiroyuki Sanada

Offers an older, gruffer Ryu

At 63 years old , Hiroyuki Sanada is one of the most experience martial artist actors currently work in Hollywood today . WithSanada ’s many movie appearancesincluding the part ofScorpion in 2021’sMortal Kombat , he seems like a shoo - in to navigate Ryu in the upcoming fighting game adaptation . There ’s just one problem – At 63 years sure-enough at the time of writing , Sanda may seem too aged to play the mascot of Capcom ’s famous cadence - em - up series . However , this downside could in reality end up being a positive spin thanks to the late game .

The most recent entry of theStreet Fighterfranchise , Street Fighter 6finally moves forrad with the floor after years of prequels , significantly age up most of the classic earthly concern warrior from the colonnade classicStreet Fighter II , including Ryu . Passing the reins of series mascot and protagonist to the young American veteran Luke , Ryu takes a measure back in importance as more of a mentor figure in the present narrative . It ’s potential the upcoming movie will want to good align itself with the most popular current game by submit an old , wiser Ryu , something Sanada would be arrant for .

4Joe Taslim

Perhaps the biggest martial arts star to come out of the 2010s

While each decennary has seen the egress of its own warlike arts icon , with the 70s learn the meteoric boost of Bruce Lee and the 80s introducing the legacy of Jackie Chan , Joe Taslim has a case for being the premier Hollywood brawler of the 2010s . arrive at a name for himself in 2011’sThe Raid , Taslim has since gone on to asterisk in vast tentpole releases likeMortal Kombat , Star Trek Beyond , andFast & Furious 6.Though Taslim is presently tied up withMortal Kombat 2,set to release in 2025 , there ’s a possibility of him squeezing in another hit .

A Gold - decoration - win Judoka and practician of taekwondo , pencak silat and kung fu , Taslim has a divers visibility of experience to pull from similar to other good choice that would be a raw convulsion for Ryu ’s ever - elaborate armory of moves . His recognizable principal power could also prove essential for the success of the video secret plan adaptation , which will certainly be happy to apply all the marquee value it can get . Taslim ’s stoical performance as Sergeant Jaka inThe Raidalso certainly has shade of Ryu ’s noble wandering fight disembodied spirit .

3Simu Liu

Has the charm and aesthetics for carry a Street Fighter franchise

Known for playing Shang - Chi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’sShang - Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings , Simu Liu is a criminally kip - on role player . WhileMarvel has n’t used Shang - Chi since 2021for whatever reason , despite the film ’s winner , Simu Liu could instead pivot his elbow grease towards a more appreciative dealership as Ryu inStreet Fighter . Additionally , his hilarious performance as Ken inBarbiemight not be applicable for Ryu ’s infamous lack of humor , but his insane physique in the billion - dollar - earning pic could live up to Capcom ’s absurd standards forStreet Fightercharacter ’s muscle .

give , Liu has go on phonograph recording admitting that he ’s more of a professional dancer and a stunt performer than a martial artist , only education seriously after landing the part of Shang - Chi . That being order , he easily comes across as having years of training in the film ’s excellent competitiveness stage dancing , particularly in the first half . If anything , stimulate less of a background in material - world soldierlike arts might lend itself better to portraying the notional , if impractical movement of Ryu and Ken ’s fantasy soldierly humanistic discipline style , more reliant on blasts of flaming and Draco punch than actual karate fundamental principle .

2Mike Moh

Could return as Ryu on the big screen

At the present moment , only a fistful of actors can exact the honor of portray Ryu in a live - action mechanism film . While Bryon Mann might be the most well - know thanks to the 90s film , Mike Moh is the only unrecorded - action Ryu who truly deserves a shot at returning in a theatrical release . The American thespian and martial creative person star as a young Ryu in the web seriesStreet Fighter : Assassin ’s Fist , a fan - made project that was impressive enough to gain ground Capcom ’s blessing .

As Ryu , Moh make do to inject a tangible common sense of emotion into his competition with Ken Masters , something that a big - budget photographic film would be wise to replicate . His veridical life taekwondo experience was also priceless in portraying Ryu ’s famous spinning kicks , with Moh being no slouch when it come prison term to represent the series ' elaborate activeness setpieces . It ’s not as if the thespian is inexperient with major motion picture releases either , being commit by Quentin Tarantino of all people to impersonate martial arts legend Bruce Lee inOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood .

1Kane Kusogi

A legacy martial arts star with a relevant track record

The story ofStreet Fighterisn’t the most dramatic or serious story , claim place in a world of cultural stereotypes up to of oppose off entire armies with their fists alone who contend with psycho power , resurrected deity , and ancient karate fiend . In this world , it might make sense to cat an actor with a better flair for the dramatic and unbelievable , which is where bequest actor Kane Kusogi could make out into play . The boy of a martial arts hotshot , Kusogi has been acting ever since he was a minor , and would be a complete paroxysm for theStreet Fightermovie .

Kane Kusogi just might beStreet Fighter ’s best choice for Ryu .

Kusogi is a recur headliner inthe tokusatsu genre , fundamentally Japan ’s take on sci - fi superhero action . As if that does n’t make him qualified enough , Kusogi has really voiced Ryu before in the brilliantStreet Fighter Zero : The vivification , not to observe play fighting game antagonist Kazuya Mishima in resilient - action inTekken 2 : Kazuya ’s Revenge . Between his real - world forcible prowess with an unprecedented run on the Japanese game showSportsman No . 1 Decisive Battleto his decipherable familiarity with fighting games and over - the - top action roles , Kane Kusogi just might beStreet Fighter ’s good pick for Ryu .