Street Fighter film cast shares premiere stories ahead of 16 October release
The Japanese premiere of the 2026 Street Fighter film brought its cast together — and delivered a warning about copying E. Honda’s signature move.
Street Fighter is due in cinemas on 16 October, and a Japanese premiere has offered a glimpse at the cast bringing Capcom’s fighting-game world to the big screen. The event brought together Japanese voice actors Eiko Kano, Takeshi Nadagi and Akari Niibu, alongside wrestler Hirooki Goto, who plays E. Honda, and Street Fighter 6 director Takayuki Nakayama. 1
Kano said he initially suspected the casting offer was a prank, while Nadagi joked about his nerves before walking the red carpet. Niibu, who already plays Street Fighter 6, said she had been looking forward to the film before being invited to voice one of its characters. Goto described his role as a dream come true. 1
The event also highlighted how the film is borrowing recognisable moves from the games. Footage showed Goto performing E. Honda’s Super Headbutt, prompting a warning not to imitate it. The wrestler explained that the technique carries real risk without proper preparation, even for someone used to performing in the ring. 1
The film is directed by Kitao Sakurai and stars Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, Callina Liang, Joe Anoa'i and David Dastmalchian, with Jason Momoa among the wider cast. It is scheduled for a worldwide cinema release on 16 October 2026. 12
Our opinion
The most useful detail here is not another promise that the film understands the games; it is the glimpse at how the production is using the cast around the Japanese release. Goto’s warning about Super Headbutt is a small but welcome reminder that the movie’s larger-than-life martial-arts imagery still has to be treated as choreography, not a tutorial. The real test will be whether the film gives its characters enough personality beyond the fan-service poses.
1 Famitsu’s report from the Japanese premiere. 2 The official film website.