Jason Momoa Insists He's the Only Choice for Blanka in Street Fighter
The Chief of War charges into the upcoming video game adaptation, ready to wage war.
I know, we still haven’t seen a single frame. But this Street Fighter movie is already swinging hard just off the cast list alone. It’s the kind of lineup that makes you pause and go, wait, they got who?
Who’s in the fight
The film is directed by Kitao Sakurai, and the roster is stacked. Highlights:
- Andrew Koji as Ryu
- Noah Centineo as Ken
- Roman Reigns as Akuma (yes, the WWE champ)
- Cody Rhodes as Guile (also WWE, because why not make this a crossover event)
- 50 Cent as Balrog (who has already transformed for the role)
- Callina Liang as Chun-Li
- Jason Momoa as Blanka
Momoa powering up as Blanka is exactly the kind of chaos I’m here for
Momoa, Aquaman alum and apparent Lobo-to-be, is playing Blanka, the Brazilian brawler who debuted in 1991 and is famous for rolling into a ball and zapping anyone dumb enough to get close. The idea of Momoa literally curling up and electrifying people? I mean, I would buy a ticket just for that visual.
He says he’s all in
While promoting The Chief of War, Momoa told The Playlist he’s diving headfirst into this thing. He also flagged that he and his son actually play Street Fighter, which is always a good sign with this kind of adaptation.
"There’s no one better to play Blanka, so that’s why I’m doing it," Momoa said. "We’ll do what the audience would like to see - practical, CG - we’re gonna do our best. The cast is insane. My son and I play it; it’s the only game I played."
Video game adaptations are having a moment
Yes, there have been some clunkers in recent years, but the tide has very clearly turned: Sonic, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, The Last of Us, Fallout... the trendline is up. One note floating around claims the last video game adaptation Momoa starred in made just under $1 billion at the box office. I honestly don’t know which project that’s supposed to be, so maybe take that stat with a shrug. Still, given the cast here and the current win streak for game-to-screen, the odds look pretty good.
When to expect it
Street Fighter is scheduled to hit theaters on October 16, 2026. No footage yet, but with this lineup, the first trailer drop is going to be a moment.