The live-action Street Fighter movie 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 debut Talk to Me, in talks to direct, though they eventually dropped out and were replaced by Kitao Sakurai in May 2025. More recently, the Street Fighter movie made 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 to ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, the Street Fighter movie 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 figure in the Street Fighter video games. Introduced in Street Fighter II in 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 her role in Steven Soderbergh’s Presence. Previously, the actress appeared in J.C. Lee’s heist thriller Bad Genius, but began her television career playing the role of Mei in the first season of the ITVX teen drama Tell Me Everything, which premiered in 2022, and went on to appear as a young Rue Corinthia in the Apple TV+ sci-fi series Foundation. Since Chun-Li is the female lead, the Street Fighter movie 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. While her martial arts background may be limited, her proven ability to convey emotional depth in Presence could 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.

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 the Street Fighter movie.

Source: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline