Consideration all avid gamers and ’90s youngsters: Your wildest goals are inching nearer and nearer to turning into a actuality … and we do imply wild. Regardless of representing one of the vital well-liked and highest-grossing online game franchises at the moment in existence, it is truthful to say that the “Road Fighter” property’s varied live-action diversifications have been, uh, largely a miss. (Though, after all, there are all the time defenders of titles just like the 1994 “Road Fighter.” The much less mentioned about 2009’s “Road Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li,” nevertheless, the higher.) Nonetheless, that definitely hasn’t stopped Hollywood from making an attempt, and the most recent try to carry this franchise to life on the large display screen comes within the type of the upcoming blockbuster starring Noah Centineo as Ken Masters, Andrew Koji as Ryu, Callina Liang because the fan-favorite Chun-Li, Jason Momoa as Blanka, and lots of extra. The forged has spent the previous few months teasing the appears to be like for his or her respective characters, however in the present day brings us one of many extra outrageous reveals but.
Sure, it is none apart from 50 Cent’s flip to get within the ring and present us what he is cooking up with Balrog, the African-American boxer that the majority everybody is aware of is (loosely) patterned after the boxing legend and “The Hangover” star Mike Tyson. “Road Fighter” is at the moment taking pictures in Australia with Japanese director Kitao Sakurai taking the reins, which implies the ensemble has needed to be in preventing form to precisely replicate these larger-than-life characters. (Remaining devoted and correct to the unique — and extremely foolish — Capcom preventing video games could be very, very severe enterprise, you see.) Proper on cue, 50 Cent has taken to social media (by way of Yahoo Leisure) and launched a short glimpse into his coaching for Balrog, alongside together with his reasonably unrecognizable new look because the boxer:
I do not anticipate you to grasp my stage of self-discipline however watch it, it is entertaining. Road Fighter Coming quickly, then Road Fighter ll BALROG! All Roads Result in Shreveport • https://t.co/WtNREs3AKy pic.twitter.com/FyirkQUMhV
— 50cent (@50cent) September 13, 2025
“I do not anticipate you to grasp my stage of self-discipline however watch it, it is entertaining. ‘Road Fighter’ Coming quickly, then ‘Road Fighter ll BALROG’! All Roads Result in Shreveport”
The Road Fighter film is trying appropriately ridiculous and extremely foolish … and that is a great factor
Say what you’ll about yet one more online game adaptation banking on nostalgia, however a minimum of “Road Fighter” appears to be like prefer it’s taking a large swing for the fences. The interactive, shoot-em-up medium appears to have made a concerted effort to come back for the crown that superhero motion pictures have earned during the last a number of years, and for good purpose. Exhibits like “The Final of Us” and “Fallout” have garnered reliable awards love, whereas blockbusters like “A Minecraft Film,” “The Tremendous Mario Bros. Film,” the “Sonic” movies, and extra show that there are untold quantities of field workplace earnings simply ready to be reaped. However “Road Fighter” particularly appears to be taking a novel strategy that leans into the inherent silliness of the supply materials, and that is positive to be music to many a fan’s ears. Look no additional than 50 Cent’s hilarious (however earnest!) dedication to the function, reworking himself into each inch the character that avid gamers can instantly acknowledge.
In fact, 50 Cent’s Balrog’s not the one main determine concerned on this ensemble film. The sprawling forged additionally consists of the likes of WWE legend Roman Reigns as Akuma, character actor David Dastmalchian because the villainous M. Bison, Cody Rhodes as Guile, Andrew Schulz as Dan Hibiki, Eric André as Don Sauvage, Vidyut Jammwal as Dhalsim, Orville Peck as Vega, Olivier Richters as Zangief, Hirooki Goto as E. Honda, Rayna Vallandingham as Juli, Alexander Volkanovski as Joe, Kyle Mooney as Marvin, and Mel Jarnson as Cammy. When you keep in mind, the movie was initially meant to be directed by the horror duo of Danny and Michael Philippou, although they departed the venture in an effort to give attention to their current characteristic “Convey Her Again.” Irrespective of, because the manufacturing seems to be in superb palms as followers in every single place wait on pins and needles to see how this in the end shapes up.
“Road Fighter” hits the streets (er, theaters) on October 16, 2026.
