Following 50 Cent revealing Balrog, WWE Superstar Roman Reigns has given fans their first glimpse of his transformation into Akuma for Legendary’s upcoming Street Fighter movie.
The Akuma Tease
Reigns shared a video across his social platforms showing him walking inside a building before approaching a Street Fighter arcade machine. The footage then transitions into stylized graphics where Reigns smirks, and his eyes glow red — a nod to Akuma’s demonic power and his mastery of the “Satsui no Hado.”
The tease confirms Reigns’ dark and imposing take on the fan-favorite villain, who first appeared in Super Street Fighter II Turbo (1994).
AKUMA! ☝🏽@Street_Fighter @Legendary pic.twitter.com/fwJfGq28Oa
— Roman Reigns (@WWERomanReigns) September 19, 2025
Akuma in Street Fighter
Akuma is one of the most iconic characters in the franchise, known as the younger brother of Gouken, the master who trained Ryu and Ken. He embodies the deadly martial art Ansatsuken pushed to its violent extreme, making him one of the most dangerous fighters in the Street Fighter universe.
Reigns, with his size, charisma, and WWE persona as the “Tribal Chief,” seems to fit the role perfectly.
Street Fighter Cast So Far
Reigns joins a star-studded cast that includes:
- Andrew Koji as Ryu
- Noah Centineo as Ken Masters
- Callina Liang as Chun-Li
- David Dastmalchian as M. Bison
- Jason Momoa as Blanka
- Cody Rhodes as Guile
- Orville Peck as Vega
- Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Balrog
- Andrew Schulz as Dan Hibiki
- Vidyut Jammwal as Dhalsim
- Hirooki Goto as E. Honda
- Olivier Richters as Zangief
- Rayna Vallandingham as Juli
- Mel Jarnson as Cammy
- Eric André as Don Sauvage
Release Date
The film is directed by Kitao Sakurai (Bad Trip, Twisted Metal) and will be released on October 16, 2026, through Paramount Pictures.
With 50 Cent already teasing Balrog training and now Roman Reigns hinting at Akuma, the hype around Legendary’s Street Fighter adaptation continues to build.
