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TL;DR: Paramount Pictures released a “Ken vs. Ryu” featurette for the Street Fighter movie, which teases Ryu and Ken as estranged blood brothers forced back together. The film is set in 1993, directed by Kitao Sakurai, and features Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, Roman Reigns, and Jason Momoa. It opens in Philippine cinemas on October 14.
Kung may isang rivalry na nagde-define sa Street Fighter, it’s Ryu and Ken. Since the arcade days, these two have been the face of Capcom’s legendary fighting game series. Same dojo, same moves, completely different personalities. Now Paramount Pictures is putting that brotherhood in the spotlight with a new “Ken vs. Ryu” featurette for the upcoming Street Fighter movie, which hits Philippine cinemas on October 14.
The featurette gives us our first real look at how the film handles the heart of the franchise. Noah Centineo, who plays Ken Masters, explains that the two go way back as longtime training partners and friends. Andrew Koji, who takes on Ryu, goes a step further. He says they’re blood brothers who haven’t spoken in years because of an event that sent them down very different paths.
Honestly, that’s a solid setup. Kung lumaki ka sa arcade o nakipag-agawan ng controller sa kuya mo, alam mong two sides of the same coin sina Ryu at Ken. Ryu is the wandering warrior obsessed with the fight itself. Ken is the flashy rich kid with the flaming Shoryuken. Turning them into estranged brothers who are forced back together gives the movie real emotional stakes, not just an excuse for fight scenes.
The story is set in 1993, right at the peak of Street Fighter II fever. Ryu and Ken get pulled back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament. But behind the tournament lies a deadly conspiracy that pits them against each other and the demons of their past. Nostalgia overload ‘to para sa mga tito at tita gamers natin.
Directed by Kitao Sakurai, the film has a seriously stacked cast. Roman Reigns plays Akuma, David Dastmalchian is M. Bison, and Cody Rhodes steps in as Guile. Jason Momoa plays Blanka and also co-produces. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is Balrog, and the lineup also includes Andrew Schulz (Dan Hibiki), Mel Jarnson (Cammy), Vidyut Jammwal (Dhalsim), Orville Peck (Vega), Olivier Richters (Zangief), Hirooki Goto (E. Honda), Rayna Vallandingham (Juli), Eric André (Don Sauvage), and UFC star Alexander Volkanovski (Joe).
That’s a lot of pro wrestlers, fighters, and martial artists in one film, which is a good sign for the action choreography. Sana lang talaga.
Let’s be real: Street Fighter’s track record on the big screen has been rough. The 1994 Jean-Claude Van Damme version lives on mostly as a meme. But with Capcom officially involved and a cast this committed to the physical side of things, there’s genuine reason to be hopeful this time.
Street Fighter opens in Philippine cinemas on October 14. So, sa barkada ninyo, sino ang Ryu at sino ang Ken?
Photo and video credit: Paramount Pictures
