Kitao Sakurai to Direct Street Fighter Movie

Kitao Sakurai has been selected to direct the upcoming live-action adaptation of the Street Fighter franchise by Legendary Entertainment, after the departure of initial directors Danny and Michael Philippou due to scheduling conflicts. Sakurai, known for his work on 'Bad Trip' and 'The Eric Andre Show', brings experience in adapting video games to screen, having directed episodes of Peacock’s 'Twisted Metal'. The film, co-produced by Capcom and set for release on March 20, 2026, aims to faithfully adapt the beloved fighting game series, which has sold over 56 million copies globally. Previous adaptations of Street Fighter, including the 1994 film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and the 2009 'Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li', were not well-received, adding pressure for this reboot to succeed. The franchise continues to thrive with recent successes like 'Street Fighter VI', which won Best Fighting Game at the 2023 Game Awards. Sony Pictures will handle distribution, and the project is moving forward with casting underway.