The live-actionStreet Fightermovie finds its Chun-Li in a recent 25-year-old breakout star. In April 2023, it was announced that Legendary was developing an adaptation of the Capcom video game franchise with Danny and Michael Philippou, fresh off their successful debutTalk to Me, in talks to direct, though they eventually dropped out and were replaced by Kitao Sakurai in May 2025. More recently, theStreet Fightermoviemade a big splash by casting Andrew Koji, Noah Centineo, Jason Momoa, Roman Reigns, and Orville Peck in undisclosed roles.
Now, the live-action adaptation has added another star. According toDeadline,theStreet Fightermovie has cast Callina Liang as Chun-Li. Representatives for Legendary declined to comment on the reported casting, and plot details remain under wraps.
What This Means For The Street Fighter Movie
Who Are Chun-Li & Callina Liang?
Chun-Li is a legendary figurein theStreet Fightervideo games. Introduced inStreet Fighter IIin 1991, she is a highly skilled martial artist, known for her speed and powerful kicks, who works as an officer for Interpol. In the games, Chun-Li enters the global fighting tournament to track down and confront M. Bison, the ruthless leader of the criminal organization Shadaloo. Motivated by justice and personal vengeance after her father’s disappearance at Bison’s hands, she fights to dismantle Shadaloo’s operations and bring Bison to justice.
Callina Liang, on the other hand, recently broke out with herrole in Steven Soderbergh’sPresence. Previously, the actress appeared in J.C. Lee’s heist thrillerBad Genius, but began her television career playing the role of Mei in the first season of the ITVX teen dramaTell Me Everything, which premiered in 2022, and went on to appear as a young Rue Corinthia in theApple TV+ sci-fi seriesFoundation. SinceChun-Li is the female lead, theStreet Fightermovie will be Liang’s biggest role yet.
Our Take On Callina Liang’s Casting As Chun-Li
Is She A Good Casting Choice?
Callina Liang’s casting as Chun-Li is both a bold and intriguing choice. Whileher martial arts background may be limited, her proven ability to convey emotional depth inPresencecould bring a refreshing layer to the iconic character. Chun-Li isn’t just about kicks and combat – her story is one of personal loss, resilience, and justice.
Ming-Na Wen played Chun-Li in the 1994Street Fighterfilm.
If Liang can channel Chun-Li’s emotional core while delivering credible action, she could redefine the role for a new generation. Still, with such an iconic character comes intense scrutiny, so Liang’s casting could become one of the most talked-about elements of theStreet Fightermovie.
