Callina Liang and Rayna Vallandingham Bring the ‘Street Fighter’ Press Tour to Life Ahead of the October Launch
Few video game adaptations come with as much built-in baggage as ‘Street Fighter.’ The franchise has been brought to live action twice before, in the 1994 film and again in 2009’s ‘Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li,’ and neither is remembered as the definitive take on the arcade classic.
Paramount and Legendary are hoping the third attempt lands harder. With less than two weeks until the film opens, the promotional machine has kicked into high gear, with trailers, arcade-themed events and a steady stream of cast photocalls.
New photos of two of the film’s female leads have been shared: Callina Liang and Rayna Vallandingham, posing together for ‘Street Fighter’ press. The image shows Liang in a white crop top and dark skirt beside Vallandingham in a gray leather corset-style top and matching pants, with Vallandingham throwing a fist toward the camera. They are standing in front of a colorful arcade-style mural and a cabinet, which fits the film’s setting perfectly.
Callina Liang and Rayna Vallandingham for ‘STREET FIGHTER’ press. 📷 https://t.co/rSOwfSchWG
— Cinethology (@thecinethology) October 5, 2026
Liang plays Chun-Li, the franchise’s first playable female character. She follows Ming-Na Wen in the 1994 film and Kristin Kreuk in the 2009 spin-off, and she was cast in June 2025 alongside Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, Jason Momoa, Roman Reigns and Orville Peck.
The Canadian actress, born May 14, 2000, was previously a breakout face in Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’ and starred in the ‘Bad Genius’ remake. In this film, she plays the mysterious figure who recruits estranged fighters Ryu and Ken for the next World Warrior Tournament.
Vallandingham, who was born January 18, 2003, is an American martial artist turned actress. In ‘Street Fighter,’ she plays Juli, the assassin tied to M. Bison’s brainwashed Dolls, staying true to the character’s role and abilities from the games.
Liang has become one of the most visible faces of the press cycle. According to Comic Basics, she appeared at the film’s booth at ComplexCon, and Cinethology also shared separate press photos of her on October 3.
The site noted that fan reaction to the wider cast has been mixed since the film was announced. Still, many viewers have praised Liang’s look as Chun-Li, with some joking that they would watch the movie for her alone.
The pairing with Vallandingham is a smart visual for the campaign, which has leaned heavily into the retro arcade aesthetic. It also highlights how much of the ensemble is made up of actual fighters, which is something the marketing has emphasized.
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
Set in 1993, the year ‘Street Fighter II’ dominated arcades, the film follows Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) as they are pulled back into combat by Chun-Li. Behind the tournament, the studio’s logline teases a deadly conspiracy that forces them to face each other and the demons of their past.
Kitao Sakurai, known for ‘Bad Trip’ and ‘The Eric André Show,’ directs after Danny and Michael Philippou exited the project to focus on ‘Bring Her Back.’ The cast includes Jason Momoa as Blanka, David Dastmalchian as M. Bison, Cody Rhodes as Guile, Roman Reigns as Akuma, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Balrog and Mel Jarnson as Cammy.
Paramount released a trailer titled “The Love of Street Fighter” on October 2, featuring cast members talking about the franchise alongside behind-the-scenes footage. An earlier interactive trailer let fans punch and kick through an arcade-style interface, and SlashFilm noted that audiences were largely united in praising the first trailer for looking like the best kind of dumb fun.
The film is the first release under Legendary’s distribution deal with Paramount, after the project originally moved away from Sony. It was once scheduled for March 20, 2026, before the date changed and landed on October 16.
That makes the opening weekend a notable early test for the partnership. It will also show whether audiences are ready to give the franchise a proper big-screen win after years of disappointment.
For now, the buzz is strong, and the promotional photos are doing their job. Whether it all translates into box office will become clear when the tournament begins on October 16.
Are you excited for the new Street Fighter movie?
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