The upcoming Street Fighter live-action movie just got a major dose of star power — and muscle — with the addition of rapper, producer, and actor 50 Cent, who will take on the role of Balrog, the infamous disgraced boxer from the iconic video game franchise.
Legendary Entertainment, which acquired both the film and TV rights to Street Fighter in 2023, has been carefully assembling its cast over the past year. While plot details remain tightly under wraps, the lineup already boasts Jason Momoa as the electrifying Blanka, Noah Centineo as hotshot fighter Ken, and masked country star Orville Peck stepping into the role of the claw-wielding Vega. WWE superstar Roman Reigns (aka Joe Anoa’i) has signed on as the fearsome Akuma, while Warrior star Andrew Koji and rising actress Callina Liang will portray Ryu and Chun-Li, respectively.
Now, according to The Hollywood Reporter, 50 Cent — real name Curtis Jackson — has officially joined the cast as Balrog. Known in the Street Fighter universe as a bruising ex-boxer turned enforcer for Vega’s criminal organization, Balrog first appeared in Street Fighter II and was famously inspired by Mike Tyson. (In fact, he was originally named “Mike Bison” before Capcom changed it to avoid legal heat.)
Sources close to the production reveal that 50 Cent is currently undergoing intense physical training for the role and plans to perform his own stunts. Fans of the multi-hyphenate entertainer know this isn’t his first acting rodeo. He previously starred as Kanan in Starz’s hit crime drama Power, a role he also executive produced. But Street Fighter promises to be his most action-packed and visually explosive project yet — not to mention his most tonally lighthearted.
While 50 Cent is known for his gritty persona and no-nonsense screen presence, he’s equally famous for his trolling sense of humor, which often lands him in the headlines. His casting in a project as globally beloved as Street Fighter raises intriguing questions about how his edgy energy will blend with the high-octane martial arts spectacle of the film.
Production is slated to kick off this August in Australia, with director Kitao Sakurai (Bad Trip, The Eric Andre Show) at the helm. Though no official release date has been announced.
