Joe Anoa’i (“The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns) has landed a major role in Legendary Entertainment’s upcoming live-action Street Fighter movie. In his first announced project since taking a hiatus from WWE, Reigns will portray the iconic and powerful villain, Akuma.
The casting was revealed in a report from The Hollywood Reporter that also announced Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson joining the film. The movie, based on the classic Capcom video game franchise, is set to begin production this August in Australia, with Kitao Sakuri directing.
Reigns joins a star-studded and diverse cast. Martial artist Andrew Koji, known for his role in Warrior, will play the lead character, Ryu. The ensemble also includes Jason Momoa as Blanka, Noah Centineo as Ken, Callina Liang as Chun-Li, and country singer Orville Peck as Vega. Jackson is set to play the disgraced boxer Balrog.
The role of Akuma, whose name translates to “demon” or “devil,” is a significant one within the Street Fighter lore. First appearing in Super Street Fighter II Turbo, the character is a supreme martial artist who has embraced a dark, supernatural power known as the “Satsui no Hado.” He is often depicted as an antagonist seeking to challenge and destroy the world’s strongest fighters.
This casting marks the next major step in Reigns’ career outside of the wrestling ring. He has been absent from WWE programming since the Raw after WrestleMania 41, where he was attacked and taken out by a new faction formed by his former advocate, Paul Heyman, along with Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker. That angle wrote Reigns off television for months.
While Reigns has been away from WWE, rumors have begun to circulate about his potential return. A recent report from WrestleVotes indicated that Reigns’ name has surfaced in WWE’s internal discussions, which typically signals that creative plans are being made for a comeback, with many speculating he could be back in time for SummerSlam in August.
