Street Fighter: David Dastmalchian cast as M. Bison
An actor has apparently also been cast for Guile
The "Street Fighter" movie has found its villain! As Deadline reports, "The Suicide Squad" actor David Dastmalchian has been cast as M. Bison.
Bison is one of the most famous villains in the "Street Fighter" universe and head of the criminal organization Shadaloo. In the games, Bison is responsible for numerous crimes, including arms dealing, mind control and attempting to take over the world. What sets him apart? Greed for power, brutality and his legendary psycho power attack.
In addition to Dastmalchian, the rest of the cast is also top-class. Among the actors already confirmed are Andrew Koji, Noah Centineom, Jason Momoa as Blanka and rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson in the role of Balrog. But that's not all: according to Nexus Point News, Cody Rhodes, current WWE star and crowd favorite, is also currently in talks to play another key character in the "Street Fighter" universe – the legendary Guile. Guile is one of the most famous characters in the series and first appeared in "Street Fighter 2" in 1991. He is a battle-hardened US Air Force colonel who fights M. Bison to avenge the death of his friend Charlie Nash.
Guile is not only known for his iconic brush haircut, but also for his typical special attacks such as the "Sonic Boom" and the "Flash Kick". He is also one of the most popular fighters in the entire "Street Fighter" franchise. In the 1994 film adaptation, Guile was played by action star Jean-Claude Van Damme.
The film adaptation is being directed by Kitao Sakurai, who became famous for the comedy "Bad Trip". An official cinema release date has not yet been announced, but production is due to start soon.
"Street Fighter": Controversial but cult – the legacy of an unusual film phenomenon
When talking about the most controversial video game adaptations of all time, one name almost always comes up first: "Street Fighter". The action film from 1994, inspired by the legendary beat-'em-up game from Capcom, is considered a prime example of failed game adaptations on the one hand, but has long enjoyed cult status on the other. The reason why this film is still polarizing and yet revered today is due to a mixture of quirky charm, curious production stories and nostalgic cult factor.
A movie that never wanted to be what fans expected
"Street Fighter" was released at a time when Hollywood was just beginning to discover the potential of video game adaptations. But instead of sticking closely to the original, director Steven E. de Souza (known for "Commando") decided to take an unusual approach: instead of a tournament film with a focus on martial arts, as the games dictated, the film became an action adventure with a military feel and over-the-top characters.
This creative freedom led to many popular characters from the games being heavily alienated or only superficially integrated. Jean-Claude Van Damme as Guile, the American soldier with a Belgian accent, became the unintentional figurehead of the film. Kylie Minogue as Cammy and Raul Julia as M. Bison also caused mixed reactions – but Julia delivered a performance that remains legendary to this day.
The legacy of Raul Julia
Raul Julia, a highly respected stage actor, played M. Bison with a mixture of theatricality, madness and irony that still characterizes the film today. For many fans, his performance is considered the film's great highlight. Sadly, it was his last role before his death – he took it on to dedicate a movie for his children to see. His legendary line "For you, it was the worst day of your life. For me, it was Tuesday." is considered one of the most iconic movie quotes of the 90s and underlines how much Julia shaped the film in her own way.
Trash that's fun
Although the film was torn to shreds by critics and didn't do as well at the box office as hoped, it developed cult status over the years – above all because it never really takes itself seriously. The unintentional comedy, the absurd dialog, the sometimes embarrassing effects and the charming overacting style make the film a "so bad it's good" experience for many fans.
Yet "Street Fighter" was never intended to be a serious drama. Director Steven de Souza himself later described it as a "popcorn comic movie" that was meant to be fun and entertaining. The fact that the film lives on despite – or perhaps because of – its shortcomings shows how trash gems can establish themselves in pop culture.
A movie that has created its own cult
Today, "Street Fighter" is considered a nostalgic journey back in time to the 90s – with all its garish colors, exaggerated hero poses and cheesy slogans. For many fans, the film belongs to their childhood or youth, when video games and action films were even more fascinating.
The movie also lives on in meme culture. Scenes from "Street Fighter" are regularly shared on social media, quotes appear in YouTube videos and merchandise based on the film is becoming increasingly popular. Last but not least, the work has become the blueprint for numerous parodies and homages in pop culture.
The new film project: cult or flop 2.0?
A new "Street Fighter" film is now in the starting blocks with Legendary Pictures. This is set to be a more modern, serious adaptation and features a top-class cast – including David Dastmalchian as M. Bison and stars such as Jason Momoa and Andrew Koji. But fans are sceptical: will the new film finally pay tribute to the "Street Fighter" universe, or will it miss out on the unique charm that helped shape the cult surrounding the first film?
No matter how good or bad the upcoming film is, the original from 1994 remains an immovable part of film and video game history: controversial, unique, and somehow... cult.