Callina Liang Sets the Internet Ablaze in Fiery Red as ‘Street Fighter’ Countdown Heats Up
Chun-Li’s kicks have been a problem for opponents since 1991, and now Callina Liang is carrying that legacy to the big screen. As the live-action ‘Street Fighter’ movie nears release, Liang’s press rounds have turned into a fan event in their own right. Every new photo call sends the internet scrambling to study her look.
Liang landed the role in June 2025, coming off breakout turns in Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’ and J.C. Lee’s ‘Bad Genius.’ It was her first foray into action filmmaking. The film is directed by Kitao Sakurai, who took over from the ‘Bring Her Back’ filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou, and is set in 1993, when estranged fighters Ryu and Ken Masters are recruited by Chun-Li for the World Warrior Tournament.
Callina Liang stuns for ‘STREET FIGHTER’ press. 📷 pic.twitter.com/zoin00j4O7
— Cinethology (@thecinethology) October 2, 2026
The newest images arrived on Oct. 2, via photos of Liang dressed for ‘Street Fighter’ press. She wears a glossy red satin top with a scarf-style collar tied at the neck and delicate chains draped across her chest. Her hair is slicked back and her skin catches the light, all set against a courtyard of balconied buildings.
It continues a pattern of memorable press looks. In April, days after the trailer arrived, Liang wore a sleek black crop top with a grey blazer, matching trousers and a black leather belt. Later, she appeared at a Los Angeles press event photographed beside a full display of Chun-Li’s signature blue costume.
The cast has been busy this week as well. Liang joined Noah Centineo, Jason Momoa, Andrew Koji and Olivier Richters at a ‘Street Fighter’ photocall on Leake Street in London on Oct. 1.
Liang’s polished press looks sit alongside a brutal prep schedule. She trained about 2 hours a day in Taekwondo, Muay Thai and Wushu, and ate 12 eggs a day to build muscle. She has said her thighs grew about 6.5 centimeters each by the end of the shoot.
She also studied Chun-Li like a gamer. Liang downloaded every version of ‘Street Fighter’ onto her PS5 and recorded Chun-Li’s fight moves in slow motion on her phone so she could replay them. Sakurai joked at a recent Q&A that her stunt double needed butt pads just to match Liang’s physique on set.
The role is personal, too. Liang grew up in Beijing playing ‘Street Fighter’ at an arcade near her home, where her grandmother would take her after school or ballet class. She says she always picked Chun-Li, and she still loves the character’s victory pose.
PERFECT! Watch the New Trailer for Street Fighter, hitting theaters everywhere October 16. pic.twitter.com/jAAPf1k9jf
— Street Fighter Movie (@Street_Fighter) September 1, 2026
New set photos show Liang in Chun-Li’s classic blue costume, complete with hair buns and spiked wrist cuffs. A recent teaser also recreates iconic moves from the game, including the Shoryuken and the 100 Lightning Kicks. Fans have been dissecting every frame for accuracy.
‘Street Fighter’ arrives in U.S. theaters on Oct. 16 through Paramount, the first release under Legendary’s new distribution deal with the studio. It is the third live-action adaptation of the Capcom franchise, following the 1994 film and ‘Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li’ in 2009.
The ensemble around Liang is stacked. Momoa plays Blanka, Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson is Balrog, Cody Rhodes takes on Guile, Roman Reigns is Akuma and David Dastmalchian plays M. Bison. Fan reaction to the casting has been mixed since the announcement, which makes every promotional appearance matter.
What are you most excited to see from Callina Liang as Chun-Li in ‘Street Fighter’?
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