Legendary’s announcement of acquiring the rights to adapt Street Fighter for film and television raised excitement among fans of the popular fighting game series. However, a significant change has occurred with the departure of directors Danny and Michael Philippou from the project. The Hollywood Reporter revealed that the main reason for this change is the need for Legendary and Capcom to expedite production, which the Philippou brothers were not prepared to commit to.
The Philippou brothers already have their next movie, Bring Her Back, lined up at A24, with Sally Hawkins and Billy Barratt cast in the leading roles. This upcoming film is set to enter production later this month, a timeline that clashed with the requirements of the Street Fighter project. As a result, Legendary is now on the hunt for a new director to step in and take charge of bringing Street Fighter to life on the big screen.
Street Fighter made its debut in the arcade scene back in 1987 with the original game. However, it wasn’t until the release of Street Fighter II in 1991 that the franchise truly took off and became a global phenomenon, captivating audiences in arcades and later on consoles. Over the years, numerous sequels and spin-off titles have been developed, with the most recent installment being Street Fighter 6. The success of the video game franchise led to the creation of two live-action American films based on the series.
The first live-action Street Fighter movie premiered in 1994 and featured an ensemble cast including Jean-Claude Van Damme, Ming-Na Wen, Kylie Minogue, and the late Raul Julia in prominent roles. Despite its star-studded lineup, the film received mixed reviews. In 2009, a reboot titled Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li hit theaters with Kristin Kreuk in the lead role, but unfortunately, it failed to resonate with audiences and flopped at the box office.
The departure of the Philippou brothers from the Street Fighter project represents a setback for the film’s development. As Legendary searches for a new director to steer the adaptation forward, fans of the beloved video game series eagerly await updates on the future of Street Fighter’s cinematic journey.
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