Legend of Chun Li Missing Ryu And Ken But Will Have Buns

If you've been passively following upcoming Hollywood flick Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, you've probably already realized that Ryu and Ken are not characters in the film. Why is that? Hrm. According to the movie's producer Patrick Aiello, the filmmakers and Capcom decided to have this film focus on the origin of Chun-Li. Continuing, Aiello adds:

There are just way too many characters in the Street Fighter universe to cram them all into one film. We want to do each one the justice he/she deserves. So, in short, Ken and Ryu will not be appearing in this film. But, that doesn’t mean we wont see our red and white-clad heroes in potential sequels...

If this Chun-Li flick does decent business, just watch as Capcom goes sequel silly. (Not that it's ever done that in the past!) The film's producer does offer interesting insights on how they plan on adapting Street Fighter to the silver screen and stay true to the game's roots:

Variety Tries Dating Street Fighter IV

Since we don't know when Street Fighter IV's getting released, Variety's game blog The Cut Scene offers up guesstimation when the game is coming out. And hey! It's a pretty obvious, albeit logical, one. According to the Cut Scene:

Here's a wild guess: Variety recently reported that Fox will release the "Street Fighter" movie in the U.S. on Feb. 27, 2009. I'd say right around then makes a lot of sense.

Not only is that a big promotional event for the franchise, but Capcom is an investor in the movie. While I'm sure it hopes to make money on the film, it's obviously investing those millions in part to try and revive public interest in "Street Fighter." As such, Capcom would be crazy to not take advantage of the big (by videogame standards) promotional push Fox will be putting behind the release of "Street Fighter: the Legend of Chun-Li" and have its game on store shelves at the same time.

If by some chance Capcom just can't get the game out by then, around the movie's DVD release (probably in late spring) would be the next logical time to expect it.

Makes sense! And if not spring, then late fall — just in time for Christmas.
Prolly Coming Out With Movie [The Cut Scene]

The official Capcom blog confirms what we posted yesterday, that filthy faced Kristin Kreuk is indeed doing her best Chun-Li impersonation in Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li. They've killed us in the resolution department though, offering up a massive 4368 x 2912 pic of Kreuk in scowl mode. As the official blog writes, it's "perfect for printing and smooching", as well as determining whether one would "hit it" if given the opportunity. Unfortunately, we have yet to see how sharp her knees are, a very important consideration.

What we did find more interesting than the deep insight into Chun-Li's pores was the (potentially spoiler-ish) jewelry she's rocking.

Capcom of Japan released the above photo today from the in-production Street Fighter movie, giving us what appears to be our first, heavily artifacted glimpse of Kristin Kreuk as Chun-Li in Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li. It's not the traditional blue outfit we're used to seeing Chun-Li sporting, but she has to put that thing in the wash sometime. Of course, Capcom may simply have a cache of photos of Kreuk looking dirty and disheveled for times like this, so consider this unconfirmed until we get confirmation from Capcom.

There Are Talks of MORE Street Fighter Movies

There are always plans [for sequels]. We've seen this as being a really drawn-out way to explore the Street Fighter world. Start small, then go bigger and bigger, bringing in more characters and eventually spinning it horizontally to explore other threads and origin stories.

Street Fighter The Movie's Det. Maya Sunee Revealed! Uh, Who?

Here it is, the first, long awaited look at Detective Maya Sunee, from the in-production Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li. Yes, exactly. Who? According to the official Street Fighter movie blog, she's a Bangkok gangland homicide detective. More specifically, a "no-nonsense, fast-talking, half-Thai cop who rocks a Ducati and a set of gold cuffs."

Coincidentally, I just had a half-Thai lunch! A full sized pic on Ms. Sunee, played by actress Moon Bloodgood, which I wish was my name, is over at the official site.

Swingin' In The Rain [Street Fighter Movie Blog]

And so the cast for the upcoming movie Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li begins to round out! Stars Michael Clarke Duncan and Chris Klein, and Rick Yune will be joining Smallville's Kristin Kreuk as Chun Li. Duncan, who you may remember as Kingpin from Daredevil (ugh) will be playing the part of Balrog, who doesn't know how to kick. The unnaturally pretty Chris Klein will be playing Nash, which is the original Japanese name for Guile's war buddy Charlie. In the role of the elderly master assassin Gen who trained Chun Li briefly in her youth will be Rick Yun, who I remember as Johnny Tran in The Fast and the Furious, and who is also playing Edward Carnby in Alone in the Dark II (double ugh.) Rounding out the cast is Journeyman's Moon Bloodgood (hopefully Cammy!), the Black Eyed Peas' Taboo (maybe Dee Jay?), Singapore's Edmund Chen (possible Ryu?), and Hong Kong star Cheng Pei Pei - Jade Fox from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The filmmakers are still searching for the perfect Bison. Unfortunately he died fourteen years ago.

Kreuk, Duncan cruise 'Street' [Variety]