Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is stepping into the ring—literally.
The rapper, producer, and entertainment mogul is the latest star to join Street Fighter, Legendary Entertainment’s live-action adaptation of Capcom’s iconic video game franchise. Jackson will portray Balrog, a disgraced boxer-turned-bodyguard to the villainous M. Bison. Sources say the Power creator is currently undergoing intense physical training and plans to perform his own stunts for the film.
The upcoming project already boasts a wildly diverse and star-packed cast. Jason Momoa is set to play the mutated fighter Blanka, while Noah Centineo takes on the role of Ken Masters. WWE superstar Roman Reigns (Joe Anoa’i) will portray the powerful Akuma, and Andrew Koji (Warrior) stars as the film’s lead protagonist, Ryu. Callina Liang (Presence) will step into the iconic role of Chun-Li.
Other cast members include:
- David Dastmalchian as M. Bison
- Cody Rhodes as Guile
- Orville Peck as Vega
- Andrew Schulz as Dan Hibiki
- Hirooki Goto as E. Honda
- Vidyut Jammwal as Dhalsim
Kitao Sakurai (The Eric Andre Show) is directing the film, which begins production this August in Australia. The film is being co-developed and co-produced by Legendary and Capcom, with a 2026 release planned. Plot details are still under wraps.
This marks the first major Street Fighter adaptation since the 1994 cult film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Raul Julia, Ming-Na Wen, and Kylie Minogue. The franchise, which launched in 1987, revolutionized the fighting game genre with Street Fighter II and has since sold over 55 million units worldwide. Its latest installment, Street Fighter 6, was released in 2023 and won Best Fighting Game at The Game Awards.
Jackson continues to expand his Hollywood footprint. Through G-Unit Film & Television, he’s built a TV empire with Power, BMF, and For Life, and recently wrapped production on Season 4 of Black Mafia Family for Starz. He also launched the FAST channel 50 Cent Action with Lionsgate, which quickly became the top action channel on Roku and LG platforms.
With Street Fighter, Jackson returns to the big screen in a physically demanding role that connects his real-life grit with a beloved character from gaming lore.