The rapper-turned-actor will play Balrog, a disgraced boxer who serves as a ruthless bodyguard to one of the franchise’s major villains. Known for his commitment to physical roles, Jackson is reportedly undergoing intense training and plans to perform his own stunts for the film.
Jackson’s casting adds even more star power to an already eclectic lineup. Jason Momoa is set to portray the electric beast-man Blanka, while Noah Centineo takes on the role of Ken, the hotheaded American fighter. Country singer Orville Peck, known for his masked persona and genre-defying music, will appear as the seductive and deadly Vega.
Also on board is WWE superstar Joe Anoa’i (aka Roman Reigns) as the fearsome Akuma, and Andrew Koji—best known for his role in Warrior—is stepping into the role of Ryu, the franchise’s central fighter. Rising talent Callina Liang (Presence) rounds out the cast as Chun-Li, the fan-favorite Interpol agent and martial artist.
The film will be directed by Kitao Sakurai, whose previous work includes The Eric Andre Show, suggesting the adaptation may bring an offbeat and visually striking style to the material. Production is slated to begin in August in Australia, with Legendary co-developing and co-producing the film alongside Capcom.
While plot details remain under wraps, anticipation is high. The Street Fighter franchise first exploded onto the arcade scene in 1987 and reached global acclaim with 1991’s Street Fighter II, revolutionizing one-on-one fighting games. Its legacy continues with Street Fighter 6, released in 2023 and awarded Best Fighting Game at The Game Awards.
Jackson’s film and TV empire has grown steadily in recent years. Beyond music, he has made a mark in Hollywood with the Power universe on Starz and other G-Unit Film & Television productions like For Life and Black Mafia Family. In 2024, he launched 50 Cent Action, a FAST channel in partnership with Lionsgate, which quickly became the No. 1 action channel on Roku and LG FAST platforms.
Jackson is represented by IAG, AKR Public Relations, and attorney Steve Savva.