David Dastmalchian Joins Legendary’s Live-Action Street Fighter Movie as Fan-Favorite Villain

David Dastmalchian, who recently starred in The Life of Chuck, has landed a major role in Legendary Pictures’ upcoming live-action Street Fighter movie. According to sources who spoke with Deadline, Dastmalchian will play the film’s villain.

While the studio hasn’t officially commented, this is a big moment for the actor, who has been building his career steadily for nearly two decades. He gained attention recently for his performance in the horror movie Late Night with the Devil.

The plot of the Street Fighter movie is still a mystery. Fans know that the story revolves around a global fighting tournament organized by a dangerous group called Shadaloo, led by the main villain. Shadaloo is known for serious crimes like arms trafficking and mind control, all aimed at taking over the world.

The cast already has some big names attached. Andrew Koji, Noah Centineo, Jason Momoa, Roman Reigns, Orville Peck, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, and Andrew Schulz are all part of the project. The film is directed by Kitao Sakurai, known for his work on Bad Trip, and it’s scheduled to hit theaters in 2026.

Street Fighter started as a video game in 1987 and became famous for its intense one-on-one battles between fighters from around the globe. The series has sold over 55 million copies worldwide, making it one of the most popular gaming franchises ever.

David Dastmalchian has also been seen recently in Apple’s sci-fi comedy series Murderbot alongside Alexander Skarsgård. He starred in Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck, which won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. Known for his villain roles, he will soon appear in Dexter: Resurrection and Netflix’s One Piece Season 2 as the bad guy Mr. 3.

Currently, Dastmalchian is filming a psychological thriller called Kodak SuperXX with Kelly Marie Tran and has several other projects lined up, including Bryan Fuller’s Dust Bunny. His representation comes from Atlas Artists and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.

Other cast members include Callina Liang as Chun-Li, Andrew Schulz playing Dan Hibiki, and Jason Momoa confirmed as Blanka. Noah Centineo takes on Ken, WWE star Roman Reigns will be Akuma, and Andrew Koji from Warrior plays the lead role of Ryu. Musician Orville Peck is also joining the cast as Vega.

With Kitao Sakurai directing, known for his wild and offbeat style, and 50 Cent’s involvement, the movie is expected to have a unique energy. The mix of actors from wrestling, music, comedy, and film makes this cast stand out from typical action movies.

Legendary has kept plot details under wraps, so it’s unclear how closely the movie will follow the games. Still, fans are excited to see these iconic characters come to life. The Street Fighter movie promises to be a fresh take on the franchise, with a release planned for 2026. The anticipation is already high.

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