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An Aussie sporting champion is set to make the transition to blockbuster action movie star after being cast in a major release coming in 2026.
Alexander Volkanovski is a two-time UFC Featherweight Champion, first winning the belt in 2019 against Max Holloway.
He lost it to Ilia Topuria in 2024 but reclaimed the title at UFC 314 in April 2025.
And now he has scored a role in the upcoming action blockbuster, alongside some giants of the screen, music world and the wrestling ring.
Street Fighter has officially begun production in Australia, with a global release date set for October 16, 2026.
The film brings together a star-studded cast, including Andrew Koji as Ryu, Noah Centineo as Ken and Callina Liang as Chun-Li.
Noah Centineo, known for teen rom-com stardom, takes a dramatic leap as Ken in the Street Fighter reboot
Volkanovski, second from left with some of the Street Fighter cast, swaps the octagon for the silver screen, starring alongside Jason Momoa and Noah Centineo
Volkanovski joins Jason Momoa (left) and Roman Reigns in the new Street Fighter movie cast
Big names like Jason Momoa as Blanka, 50 Cent as Balrog, and wrestling superstar Roman Reigns as Akuma add blockbuster appeal.
And Volkanovski is set to join them, realising a dream he has for his post-UFC career.
'Acting. I love acting, so I've been doing a bit of it,' Alexander Volkanovski said last year about his plans for life after the UFC.
'I haven't had a movie role yet, but there are always talks. A lot of interest. A lot of people throw things our way ... I'm a big fan of Jason Statham. I feel like I could pull off a Jason Statham vibe.'
Volkanovski has been cast in a strange role, set to play a kickboxer named Joe who only appeared in the first Street Fighter game from the 1980s.
While the other characters from the little-known first title have re-surfaced in sequels and the Street Fighter Alpha series, Joe only ever appeared in the one game.
Joe was also intended to be the main character in that title, before he was relegated to the role of side character with Ryu and Ken taking the lead - and becoming the faces of the franchise.
The first Street Fighter game from 1987 remains a cult classic as one of the first examples of a one-on-one fighting game in the arcades.
Volkanovski, fresh off reclaiming his UFC featherweight crown, now steps into Hollywood with a surprising new role
Volkanovski has landed the role of Joe (right), an obscure original Street Fighter combatant who's been long overlooked
Many of the Hollywood heavyweights in the Street Fighter reboot have already assembled in Australia for filming (pictured)
It garnered plenty of interest with its unique pressure pads, which were ultimately replaced by the now-classic six-button array after teenagers routinely broke cabinets trying to bust out the most powerful moves.
However, its clunky gameplay and lack of engaging characters meant it failed to generate any significant hype.
Its sequel, released in 1991, changed the world of video games forever.
Street Fighter II was a colossal success, grossing over $10billion in total revenue, making it the highest-grossing fighting game and one of the most successful video games ever.
By 1995, it had taken in an estimated $2.3billion from arcades alone.
The game sold over 200,000 arcade cabinets and copycat games quickly started filling amusement venues, including early fighters like Fatal Fury.
Street Fighter II's home console versions were also massive hits, with the Super NES version alone selling 6.3 million units.
Street Fighter II remains one of the world’s most successful video games, grossing over $10billion since its 1991 release
Street Fighter’s cult history and colourful characters ensure the 2026 reboot carries plenty of blockbuster potential
The first Street Fighter live-action movie was released in 1994 and was based on Capcom's hit video game series.
It starred Jean-Claude Van Damme as Colonel Guile, Raul Julia as the villainous M. Bison, and pop star Kylie Minogue as Cammy.
The film attempted to mix action with campy humour, but its plot strayed far from the source material.
Critics panned it for weak writing, awkward dialogue, and uneven performances, though Julia's theatrical take on Bison became a cult favourite.
Fans of the games were disappointed by the lack of faithful characterisation and fight choreography.
Despite grossing modestly at the box office, it flopped critically and is often remembered as one of the weaker video game adaptations of the 1990s.
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