Roman Reigns is officially trading the WWE ring for the big screen, and this time he’s bringing the fight as one of gaming’s most iconic villains.

After months of speculation, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Reigns will play Akuma in Legendary Pictures’ live-action Street Fighter movie.

The project, based on Capcom’s legendary fighting game franchise, will begin production this August in Australia. While plot details are being kept tightly under wraps, the confirmed cast reads like a who’s who of Hollywood names—and it’s clear this isn’t just another video game cash grab.

Joining Reigns is Callina Liang as the legendary Chun-Li, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson stepping into the role of Balrog, Bullet Train star Andrew Koji playing Ryu, Noah Centineo as Ken, Jason Momoa bringing the beastly Blanka to life, and musician Orville Peck set to portray Vega.

Advertising
Advertising

This marks Reigns’ biggest movie role to date. The WWE megastar, real name Joe Anoa’i, has already dipped his toes in Hollywood with appearances in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, where he played Mateo, the brother of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s character, as well as a cameo in The Wrong Missy. But landing the role of Akuma—a fierce, powerful fighter known for his ruthless persona—could launch Reigns into an entirely new level of mainstream fame.

Despite the major movie opportunity, Reigns isn’t walking away from WWE entirely. Reports confirm that he’s still expected to make his return at SummerSlam 2025, meaning fans won’t have to choose between seeing him dominate in the squared circle or on the big screen.

Do you think Roman Reigns is the right choice for this Street Fighter role? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

Steve Carrier is the founder of Ringside News and has been reporting on pro wrestling since 1997. His stories have been featured on TMZ, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and more.

Disqus Comments Loading...