50 Cent to Step into the Ring as Balrog in Street Fighter 🎬🥊

Star-Studded Casting Announcement

Legendary Pictures and Capcom have officially added Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson to their upcoming live-action Street Fighter reboot—he’ll portray the fierce boxing powerhouse Balrog. The news was confirmed by Polygon, Video Games Chronicle, GameSpot, MovieWeb, and the Hollywood Reporter .

👊 What It Means for the Film

Balrog, a brutal boxer deeply loyal to the sinister M. Bison, is one of the franchise’s most recognizable antagonists. 50 Cent’s casting seems like a nod to the original 1994 film’s stunt casting—back when Jean-Claude Van Damme and Kylie Minogue took center stage . This new version, directed by Kitao Sakurai, aims to balance blockbuster star power—like Jason Momoa (Blanka), Noah Centineo (Ken), Roman Reigns (Akuma), Andrew Koji (Ryu), Callina Liang (Chun-Li), Orville Peck (Vega), and now 50 Cent—with a level of gravitas that could rival Raul Julia’s iconic M. Bison performance .

🎬 Fan Reactions & Concerns

Fans are split: some are excited about 50 Cent’s boxing background aligning perfectly with Balrog’s character, while others worry this might echo the original film’s focus on celebrity cameos over story depth . The key challenge? To avoid becoming “meme-fodder” and deliver a compelling, immersive Street Fighter movie experience .

📅 Production & Release Status

Directed by Kitao Sakurai, the film is expected to begin shooting in August in Australia. Initially slated for a March 2026 release, the date has since been removed from the calendar, pushing its debut to an unspecified time in late 2026 or 2027 .

🧐 Why It Matters

The Street Fighter film franchise hasn’t found its footing since 1994’s cult hit, followed by middling sequels and adaptations. This reboot has the potential to break that trend—if it balances blockbuster casting with strong storytelling and authentic fight choreography. With 50 Cent stepping into Balrog’s boxing gloves, fans are hopeful—but only time will tell if this Street Fighter reboot packs a K‑O punch.