With superhero movies no longer being guaranteed successes in the current box-office climate, especially after the upsurge of mediocre CBMS in recent years, major studios are now shifting their focus to game adaptations. For a prolonged period, video game adaptations often failed to entice viewers, as past the visuals, the story often didn’t replicate the feel of those games, case in point, Assassin’s Creed.

But amidst the shifting trends, every major media behemoth is jumping on video game adaptations, including Legendary Entertainment with Street Fighter, and one casting choice in particular can elevate its hype.

Andrew Koji is pitch-perfect for a Street Fighter movie

Street Fighter | Credit: CAPCOM

Video game adaptations are thriving in the current climate, whether it’s HBO’s new flagship series The Last of Us or Warner Bros.’ Minecraft movie. With Street Fighter now set to get its own adaptation, in addition to the narrative, fans will reasonably expect nothing but perfection from the adaptation on the action front, given how the IP’s legacy in the fighting genre.

Related: “What about Sub-Zero?”: Street Fighter 6 Director Teases a Crossover to End All Crossovers

One potential casting choice that could fit the IP’s action roots is Warrior star Andrew Koji, who, alongside Noah Centineo, is currently in talks to star in the upcoming movie (via Deadline).

Warrior | Credit: Cinemax

For the unversed, Koji has maintained a significant presence in the martial arts community, and nothing highlights his martial arts brilliance more than Warrior, which was based on Bruce Lee’s writings.

While the cast is yet to be locked for the adaptation, which is also eyeing Jason Momoa and Roman Reigns, given Koji’s credentials as a martial artist and a choreographer, a Street Fighter casting cannot get more better.

Andrew Koji almost didn’t audition for Warrior

Considering that Warrior was based on Bruce Lee’s writing, Andrew Koji undoubtedly had some massive shoes to fill, and to say that he lived up to the bar would be an understatement. Instead of replicating Lee, Koji carved his own niche with his portrayal of Ah Sahm.

Warrior star Andrew Koji | Credit: Cinemax

Surprisingly, before he landed the gig, which propelled him to stardom, Koji contemplated leaving acting after a decade of hardship, and if it wasn’t for his mother, we might’ve missed out on his generational action chops. He recalled (via MMAWEEKLY.com):

I didn’t know what it would turn into. I didn’t know it would be as well written and clever as it is. I had no idea. I’d been a struggling actor for 10 years, working a part-time job and auditioning, so I didn’t have much time watching American TV. At the time, I had been thinking about leaving acting for a while, and my mom basically convinced me to audition.

As for what to expect from the adaptation, which is slated for an early 2026 release, given how much of a mess the ’90s adaptation was, the upcoming movie has the opportunity to do a full Mario here.

Street Fighter is slated to release on March 20, 2026 (USA).
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