Street Fighter actors discuss intense training and character preparation

Actors Andrew Koji and Noah Centineo have shared details regarding their preparation for the upcoming ‘Street Fighter’ film reboot. Koji, who portrays Ryu, admitted in an interview with Empire that he was not an expert at the video game during his youth, describing himself as a “button-basher” who found the gameplay difficult. However, he noted that he always played as Ryu because the character resonated with his identity as an Asian person growing up in the West.

To prepare for the role, Koji studied Shotokan karate, judo, jiu-jitsu, and kickboxing to bring depth to Ryu’s fighting style. Centineo, playing Ken Masters, joined Koji and Callina Liang (Chun-Li) in an intense training regimen that lasted six weeks, with the cast training together six days a week. Centineo expressed a sense of responsibility to the project, stating, “I felt like I had something to prove.”

The film is directed by Kitao Sakurai and features a diverse cast including Jason Momoa, David Dastmalchian, and several professional wrestlers.