The upcoming live-action Street Fighter movie has been removed from the 2026 release calendar. The update comes only a month after Kitao Sakurai became the new director of Legendary Entertainment’s Street Fighter movie. Directors Danny and Michael Philippou previously exited the project. The popular video game franchise previously received the live-action movie treatment in 1994, with Jean-Claude Van Damme playing Colonel William F. Guile and Ming-Na Wen playing Chun-Li Zang.

According to Sony Pictures, Street Fighter has now been removed from the studio’s 2026 domestic release calendar. The adaptation was previously scheduled to debut in theaters on March 20, 2026. Sony also adjusted its upcoming theatrical release calendar by moving the Phoebe Dynevor-led survival thriller Shiver, formerly тιтled Beneath the Storm, to July 3, 2026 after being previously slated to come to theaters on August 1, 2025.

What This Means For Street Fighter

The Movie May Require A Significant Overhaul

While a reason for the change has not been given, a removal from the release calendar is a troubling sign. A release date delay, as in the case of Shiver, means that the project is still on track to be released, albeit at a later date. A removal suggests more substantial problems behind-the-scenes that will take time to be addressed. This may be due to a significant creative overhaul that is needed now that Sakurai is helming the movie instead of the Philippou brothers.

If this is the case, it does not have to mean that the project has ceased, but simply that it needs more time to be properly developed. This not only includes potentially refining the story, but it also means finding the perfect actors for the Street Fighter movie. They will be the face of the franchise’s new live-action creation and will need to bring both the acting and action-oriented skills that are expected of their characters. Sakurai, who has directed numerous episodes of Twisted Metal, will be integral to this process.

Our Take On Street Fighter’s Release Update

It Is Disappointing, But There Is Still Hope

This is a disappointing update, especially so soon after the news about Sakurai boarding the project. Nevertheless, there is still hope that the movie will come to fruition, even if it happens at a significantly later date than originally intended. It’s better for a movie to take its time and to ensure that it is done well instead of being rushed to meet a date on a release calendar. With longtime video game franchises like Street Fighter, there is even more pressure to meet high expectations, but hopefully the movie will now have the time needed to fulfill those expectations.

Source: Sony Pictures