50 Cent Embraces Balrog Role in Street Fighter with Boxing and Bold Casting

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has surprised fans once again, this time by stepping into the shoes of Balrog for the upcoming Street Fighter live-action adaptation. The rapper and actor recently shared footage on Instagram of his intense boxing workouts, complete with the iconic Balrog-inspired haircut. The clip shows him punishing a heavy bag while writing: “Work hard when they hardly working, and they will be surprised at the outcome. I hit a 🥷🏾 he gonna see a white light and hear Jesus say come to me child.

LOL Street Fighter coming soon.”

This isn’t just marketing flair – Jackson has long been passionate about boxing, having trained for years, and his physical presence adds credibility to the casting. While some fans express nostalgia for a more laid-back 50 Cent, others see this as a serious opportunity for him to channel Balrog’s raw power on the big screen.

The movie itself is shaping up to be one of Hollywood’s boldest video game adaptations. Set in 1993, the story follows estranged fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) who are brought together again when Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the brutal World Warrior Tournament. Beyond the expected flurry of punches and fireballs, the film promises a deeper narrative, with rivalries, betrayals, and a shadowy conspiracy that pits even allies against each other.

Legendary, which is producing the film alongside Paramount Pictures, confirmed the release date as October 16, 2026. Directed by Bad Trip filmmaker Kitao Sakurai, the movie is currently shooting in Australia and will hit IMAX theaters, signaling the studio’s confidence in the scale of its action scenes. Early promotional materials even included side-by-side comparisons of the cast and their game counterparts, sparking heavy debate online. Reactions range from excitement over Jason Momoa stepping in as Blanka to confusion about David Dastmalchian taking on M. Bison. His fans argue that his range as an actor could bring unexpected menace to the villain.

Some fans lament the absence of popular characters like Sagat, while others joke about the casting choices, worrying the project may echo the infamous 1994 film, long regarded as one of the weakest adaptations in gaming history. Yet, with the recent success of films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the massive anticipation for Minecraft, the industry has proven audiences are ready for bold video game adaptations if handled with care.

Whether this will end up as a cult disaster or a triumph depends largely on how the movie balances nostalgia, spectacle, and respect for the source material. For now, 50 Cent’s transformation has already ensured that all eyes are on Street Fighter.