Street Fighter Live-Action Film Finally Gets Its Director

Street Fighter characters standing together in front of a brick wall. — Capcom

Street Fighter has found its director.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kitao Sakurai will helm a live-action adaptation of Street Fighter for Legendary Entertainment, inspired by the classic Capcom video game. Sakurai steps in for Danny and Michael Philippou, who opted to pursue other projects instead. Details about the storyline are presently under wraps.

The Emmy-nominated Sakurai is primarily recognized as a writer, director, and producer for The Eric Andre Show. He has directed two feature films: 2010’s Aardvark and 2021’s Bad Trip, featuring comedian Eric Andre in a leading role. Additionally, Sakurai serves as an executive producer for the upcoming season of Netflix’s Beef.

Initially released in 1987 as an arcade title by Capcom, Street Fighter is a competitive fighting game showcasing one-on-one matches between martial artists. Iconic characters such as Ryu, Ken Masters, Chun-Li, Guile, and the notorious M. Bison have left their mark on gaming history. The sequel, 1991’s Street Fighter II, skyrocketed in popularity and became one of the highest-grossing arcade games of all time. Collectively, the franchise has achieved an estimated revenue of $14 billion.

Street Fighter (1994) Trailer HD | Jean-Claude Van Damme | Raul Julia

This isn’t the first live-action version of Street Fighter. In 1994, the movie starred Jean-Claude Van Damme, under the direction of Steven E. de Souza, known for his work on 48 Hrs. Van Damme portrayed Colonel Guile, with standout performances from Raul Julia as M. Bison, Ming-Na Wen as Chun-Li, Damian Chapa as Ken Masters, and Bryon Mann as Ryu. Although the film received criticism upon release, it went on to earn nearly $100 million worldwide against a budget of $35 million, achieving cult status in subsequent years.

Sony is set to release the live-action adaptation of Street Fighter in theaters on March 20, 2026.