Callina Liang’s Bruised, Battle-Worn ‘Street Fighter’ Set Photos Show What It Took to Become Chun-Li

When ‘Street Fighter‘ finally reached theaters this week, the conversation around Chun-Li had already been building for more than a year. Fans have watched every costume reveal and casting choice with a magnifying glass, and Callina Liang has been at the center of much of that scrutiny. The latest batch of behind-the-scenes ‘Street Fighter’ photos shows exactly why her Chun-Li has become such a talking point.

Liang was cast in June 2025 after breakout work in Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’ and the ‘Bad Genius’ remake. Since then, she has shared a steady stream of set photos, and each one has drawn plenty of attention from a fan base that has seen decades of mixed results from live-action adaptations.

The newest images give an unusually candid look at life on set. In one, Liang takes a mirror selfie in Chun-Li’s blue costume, her hair pinned into the character’s signature buns, with visible scrapes and grime on her arms from a fight sequence. In another, she is being lifted in the air by a large, bearded man in a black tank top, with a brick building and a waterfront behind them.

The playful second picture contrasts nicely with the gritty first. Together they capture both the toll and the fun of making an action movie.

This isn’t the first time Liang has shared this kind of imagery. Earlier posts showed the full outfit, including the ox-horn hair buns and spiked wrist cuffs, and one of them revealed a torn, scuffed costume with marks that look like blood and dirt. She joked on Instagram that she didn’t have time to photoshop, a blunt message in response to the heavy scrutiny.

Other posts showed her lying on the floor amid broken bricks and film crew, and another showed her throwing sharp kicks. The images have spread quickly, and one post of the Chun-Li actress passed 5.2 million views on X.

The movie was made almost entirely in Sydney. Production ran from August 18 to November 12, 2025, with filming on location across the city and at Disney Studios Australia in Moore Park. The NSW Government said the shoot created 317 jobs, including 24 cast and 293 crew, and generated an estimated $80 million in spending for the state.

The production used 5 sound stages for principal photography and stunt rehearsals, and it also shot at spots such as Luna Park and Maroubra Beach. It originally planned to wrap in late October, but the schedule ran a few weeks long.

According to Skydance, the film features 14 major fight sequences, planned by second unit director and stunt coordinator Jon Valera and his team. Chun-Li’s choreography drew from Chinese martial arts, and for her famous spinning bird kick, a former Cirque du Soleil performer helped, using harnesses and rigs to keep a fighter airborne a little longer.

Liang prepared by drilling kicks for 2 hours a day, 6 days a week before arriving in Sydney. Her co-star Andrew Koji trained for 6 months in the UK first, and training together in Sydney helped the leads build their bond. Director Kitao Sakurai told Skydance that the film has to be its own living, breathing entity while still honoring the game.

Set in 1993, the film follows estranged fighters Ryu and Ken Masters, played by Koji and Noah Centineo, who are pulled back into combat when Chun-Li recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament. The cast also includes Jason Momoa as Blanka, Cody Rhodes as Guile, Roman Reigns as Akuma, 50 Cent as Balrog, Orville Peck as Vega and David Dastmalchian as M. Bison.

Liang has said she studied the games closely, downloading every version onto her PlayStation 5 and recording Chun-Li’s moves in slow motion. She also built her legs through strength work and a bulking diet to match the character’s signature look.

The movie arrived in theaters and IMAX on October 16 to a divided reception. Critics have been mixed, with the Rotten Tomatoes score sitting at 45% at last check, while audiences have given it 82%. Many reviewers praised the cast, fight scenes and stylish animated sequences while criticizing the script.

That split makes Liang’s on-set photos feel even more like a window into what fans appreciate: a cast that clearly committed to the material.

PERFECT! Watch the New Trailer for Street Fighter, hitting theaters everywhere October 16. https://t.co/jAAPf1k9jf

— Street Fighter Movie (@Street_Fighter) September 1, 2026

There’s something refreshing about seeing a lead actress share the messy side of making an action movie. Bruises, torn costumes and goofy lift photos tell a different story than polished press shots. They also remind audiences how much physical effort goes into every kick on screen.

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