Momoa Unleashes Blanka
Jason Momoa electrifies as Blanka in Kitao Sakurai's 1993 live-action Street Fighter
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Key Points
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Beyond Momoa and Koji, the live-action cast expands to Noah Centineo as Ken Masters and Callina Liang as Chun-Li, with Cody Rhodes as Guile and Roman Reigns as Akuma, plus a notable cameo from 50 Cent.
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The World Warrior Tournament is a central plot device, with Chun-Li recruiting Ryu and Ken for the tournament and a hidden conspiracy driving the battles behind the scenes.
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Blanka’s screen look includes a necklace adorned with teeth and fangs, complementing the green skin, orange hair, and electric powers for a more ferocious, monster-like presentation.
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Director Kitao Sakurai, best known for Bad Trip, is guiding a gonzo, campy take on Street Fighter with CGI-heavy action meant to stay faithful to the game's spectacle.
Jason Momoa is going green. The actor best known for playing Aquaman and Lobo will appear as Blanka in the upcoming live-action Street Fighter film, and new clips show a wild transformation: bright green skin, wild orange hair, a necklace of teeth and fangs, and electric shock attacks, according to AV Club. The film is set in 1993 and hits theaters on October 16, 2026.
The new footage shows Blanka squaring off against Ryu in a cage match, with Momoa unleashing electric-powered strikes and brute-force brawling, FandomWire reported. Director Kitao Sakurai, who previously made the hidden-camera comedy Bad Trip, is steering the film toward a campy, game-faithful spectacle packed with CGI-heavy action.
Momoa's Blanka Goes Full Monster Mode
Momoa looks almost unrecognizable in the role, InStyle reported. Gone is his usual rugged look. In its place: green skin, electric sparks, and a ferocious, beast-like presence. The tooth-and-fang necklace adds an extra savage touch. Fans and critics have already compared the look to Marvel's Hulk, though Momoa's Blanka leans wilder and more feral.
The cage match clip shows Blanka trading blows with Ryu, played by Andrew Koji. The fight uses Blanka's signature electric current attacks alongside raw physical power. Final Weapon noted that the Special Look footage was released by Paramount Pictures and Legendary, and even features fighting game personalities like Justin Wong.
A Stacked Cast Built Around the World Warrior Tournament
Street Fighter is not short on star power. Beyond Momoa and Koji, Noah Centineo plays Ken Masters and Callina Liang plays Chun-Li. WWE stars Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns join as Guile and Akuma, respectively. Rapper 50 Cent also has a notable cameo, along with comedian Andrew Schulz and fighting game commentator Maximilian Dood.
The World Warrior Tournament sits at the center of the plot. Chun-Li recruits both Ryu and Ken to compete. Behind the fights, a deadly conspiracy run by M. Bison pulls the strings. The setup forces Ryu and Ken to confront their shared past while navigating the hidden dangers of the tournament, according to Head Top Topics.
Sakurai's Gonzo Vision Keeps It Faithful to the Game
Kitao Sakurai is leaning hard into the source material. Street Fighter is known for wild characters and over-the-top special moves. Sakurai's approach matches that energy. The film is set in 1993, close to when the original Street Fighter II arcade game was at its peak popularity, grounding the story in that era's aesthetic.
FandomWire described the footage as "explosive," with CGI-heavy sequences designed to make the video game moves feel real on screen. Blanka's electric powers, Ryu's energy-based attacks, and the tournament backdrop are all pulled directly from the games. The goal appears to be spectacle first — a deliberate choice to avoid the grounded, gritty tone that has sunk other video game adaptations.
October 2026 Release Signals Big Bet on Video Game Films
Street Fighter is scheduled to open on October 16, 2026. That puts it in the middle of a broader Hollywood push on video game adaptations. The success of films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie has studios betting that game-faithful, fun-first approaches beat darker reimaginings. Street Fighter appears to be following that same playbook.
The promotional campaign is already building buzz. Paramount and Legendary released the Blanka versus Ryu clip as a "Special Look," a targeted tease aimed at fans of the franchise, AV Club noted. With a release still over a year away, the early footage suggests the studio is confident enough in the material to show its wildest character right out of the gate.
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