STREET FIGHTER: WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes Reportedly In Talks To Play Guile

According to a reliable source, Roman Reigns won't be the only WWE Superstar to feature in the live-action Street Fighter movie, as Cody Rhodes is in talks to play Guile...

News

By MarkCassidy - Jul 02, 2025 04:07 AM EST

Filed Under: Street Fighter

Source: Via GameFragger.com

It seems the upcoming Street Fighter movie could end up featuring (at least) two WWE Superstars.

Following yesterday's news that David Dastmalchian has joined the cast of Legendary's live-action video game adaptation as the villainous M. Bison, we're hearing that another key role may have been filled, with Nexus Point News reporting that Cody Rhodes is now in talks to play Guile.

Known for his signature flat-top haircut and Sonic Boom projectile, William Guile debuted as one of the original eight World Warriors in 1991's Street Fighter II. The tough, no-nonsense US Air Force Colonel made it his mission to take down Bison and his Shadaloo criminal empire following the death of his friend, Charlie Nash.

Guile was played by Jean-Claude Van Damme in the '90s movie.

Andrew Koji and Noah Centineo have reportedly closed their deals to play the co-lead roles of Ryu and Ken, respectively, and Jason Momoa and WWE pro-wrestler Roman Reigns (real name Leati Joseph Anoaʻi) are also said to be in negotiations.

Reigns is believed to be in line to play the villainous Akuma, the man who killed Ryu and Ken's trainer and his own older brother Gouken, while several sources are reporting that Momoa will take on the role of green-skinned fan-favorite, Blanka. The cast also includes Callina Liang as Chun-Li, 50 Cent as Balrog, and Orville Peck as Vega.

Though numerous characters have been introduced over the years, Ryu and his best friend/rival Ken Masters have remained at the forefront of the Street Fighter video game franchise. Both fighters have very similar move sets, including the Dragon Punch and "Hadoken" fireball.

Capcom's Street Fighter series remains one of the most popular fighting games franchises of all time, but hasn't fared very well with live-action adaptations up until now. The 1994 movie starring Van Damme and Kylie Minogue has amassed a cult following over the years, but is still widely regarded as a misfire, and the less said about 2009's Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li the better!

We know next to nothing about this latest take on the property, so it's impossible to say whether it will break the trend.

Director Kitao Sakurai, who stepped in to replace original helmers Danny and Michael Philippou, is probably best known for writing, directing and exec producing The Eric Andre Show, and has also directed the pilot and several episodes of the upcoming Amazon Prime Video series Butterfly, as well as episodes of Peacock’s video game adaptation Twisted Metal.

What do you make of his casting news? Do you think Cody Rhodes would be a good pick for Guile? Let us know in the comments section down below.

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47 Comments

1 2

SteviesRightFoo - 7/2/2025, 4:57 AM

Wrestlers being in films generally makes me cringe and think less of the film straight off the bat. The only exception being bautista in blade runner 2049

Canyoublush - 7/2/2025, 6:25 AM

@SteviesRightFoo - Depends on the film. If done correctly the results are marvellous. Roddy Piper in THEY LIVE is the best example of this. Dave Batista in the guardians and avengers films also Spectre. John Cena as Peacemaker in suicide squad. Triple H in Blade Trinity. Stone Cold Steve Austin in the expendables. Cody Rhodes in Arrow or one of those DC shows. Kevin Nash in the Punisher and John Wick. Glen Jacobs aka Kane and Dave B in Smallville. Dwayne Johnson in pain & gain, Doom, Gridiron Gang.

SteviesRightFoo - 7/2/2025, 8:03 AM

@Canyoublush - they live was good so I stand corrected on that. I can't stand the rock or cena

Pathogen - 7/2/2025, 8:08 AM

@Canyoublush - They Live was a different time, when goofy was the standard. Was it a great movie? No, it was schlock...and for the time, it was perfect.
Batista and Cena are exceptions, definitely NOT the rule. I guess The Rock, too. The rest suck

dragon316 - 7/2/2025, 9:08 AM

@SteviesRightFoo - I’ll probably never feel emotion cringe I wouldn’t know most movies there in are fun to watch not boring it’s all matters fun not boring

SATW42 - 7/2/2025, 9:16 AM

@SteviesRightFoo - @Pathogen

Andre the Giant in Princess Bride? Jesse Ventura in Predator, Tyler Mane as Sabretooth was a pro wrestler, people forget Zeus was a pro wrestler, Nathan Jones in Mad Max...

the list goes on and on.

HashTagSwagg - 7/2/2025, 9:20 AM

@SteviesRightFoo - It works for some

Canyoublush - 7/2/2025, 11:08 AM

@Pathogen - We will have to disagree on THEY LIVE. For me it’s a masterpiece and the paragon of existential/science fiction. I love the movie. It was the matrix before the matrix ever existed. The themes, the concept to me are fascinating. There is so much deep subtext within the story. It’s an 80s film through and through but that’s the charm of it. It’s not overly stylistic, melodramatic or complex it’s tight, well paced and clean in execution and exposition. The satirical tone fits perfectly with the themes and concept. Roddy is utterly convincing as the protagonist.

Pathogen - 7/2/2025, 11:59 AM

@SATW42 - Tyler sucked donkey. Fine, Jesse Ventura, and Andre in Princess Bride (again, the ridiculousness fit). Most of what you're mentioning aren't examples of good actors or irreplaceable. They just fit the niche, and that was fine.
But for characters that people care about, established fanbase etc? Do better.

Pathogen - 7/2/2025, 12:05 PM

@Canyoublush - Well, the Matrix before the Matrix was more Existenz or Avalon, but I get what you're saying. And it holds true, with the control aspects of it.
Don't get me wrong, I love the film! But it was in that schlock category no matter how brilliant the motiff etc. Kinda like Starship Troopers

NonPlayerC - 7/2/2025, 12:24 PM

@SteviesRightFoo - yeah, I swear I read that they were trying to get Alan Ritchson. would have been so much better

Canyoublush - 7/2/2025, 12:39 PM

@Pathogen - I’d argue the matrix was also the lawnmower man, the thirteen floor and ghost in the shell before dark city or existenz but yeah I get what you are saying. Those movies were a product of their time.

McMurdo - 7/2/2025, 1:51 PM

@SteviesRightFoo - Bautista is arguably the worst of them all. Cena is the only one who seemingly has some acting ability chops...via TSS and Peacemaker. Rock is mostly bad in everything although he looks solid in that new UFC film coming out.

SATW42 - 7/2/2025, 1:58 PM

@Pathogen - Zeus absolutely is irreplaceable. No one else could be Deebo. Now give him your chain

Pathogen - 7/2/2025, 4:26 PM

@Canyoublush - Ooo how could I forget Dark City. Classic, underrated. 13th Floor, too really

Toecutter - 7/2/2025, 4:57 AM

Based on the casting so far, it's clear who the rest of the cast will most likely be:

Kevin James as E. Honda
Madonna as Sagat
Dame Judi Dench as Cammy
Jackie Chan as Fei Long
Vladimir Putin as Zangief
M. Night Shyamalan as Dhalsim
Johnny Depp as T. Hawk
Lil Wayne as Dee Jay

tylerzero - 7/2/2025, 6:18 AM

@Toecutter -

TheVisionary25 - 7/2/2025, 6:53 AM

@Toecutter - lol

As kinda all over the place the cast is , it’s better then that (for the most part imo).

NonPlayerC - 7/2/2025, 12:22 PM

@Toecutter - Jackie chan is welcome for any fighting movie!!!

MarkCassidy - 7/2/2025, 4:59 AM

I really liked the first few casting picks, but yeah, I don't have high hopes. Then again, Rhodes and Reigns do have charisma and aura to burn, so who knows.

Mrcool210 - 7/2/2025, 5:11 AM

I mean I've only ever seen Cody Rhodes in this video

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Not much of a wrestling fan but he seems like he could be a good choice. At least better than Jean Claude Van Damme

Thing94 - 7/2/2025, 6:24 AM

I like it

THEKENDOMAN - 7/2/2025, 6:33 AM

I think we should all just stop [frick]ing complaining.

The people who cast these movies seem to have a vision for how these beloved characters are represented, and they don't [frick]ing care about what we fans think.

On the other hand, they might surprise us with something that we'll all agree is [frick]ing fantastic. If you look at the casting of Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, and even Balrog (as much as I sometimes have trouble taking 50 seriously, he is growing as an actor), it's been okay. I still don’t understand the casting of Vega, the mother[frick]ing actor wears a mask in real life; what the [frick] is up with that? And then there's Jason as Blanka. Anyway, Jason is also Lobo, so I guess the madness isn’t too far from Blanka.

As for Ro Ro as Akuma, he still needs to learn his lines, so I'm not sure how that will turn out. I don’t think he will have many lines in this role, but his look is solid, so I'm okay with it.

The rest? I can’t complain anymore. Let’s just wait for a trailer and take it from there.

For [frick]s sake!

mountainman - 7/2/2025, 7:39 AM

@THEKENDOMAN - While people complaining pre-release can get excessive, the people working on movies should care what the audience thinks, since that is the pool of people that may or may not give them money.

Clintthahamster - 7/2/2025, 8:28 AM

@THEKENDOMAN - "the mother[frick]ing actor wears a mask in real life; what the [frick] is up with that?"

He's a singer with a mask gimmick. Not my cup of tea, but @thevisionary25 mentioned that he got some good reviews in a production of Cabaret recently.

RegularPoochie - 7/2/2025, 9:11 AM

@THEKENDOMAN - yet your whole comment was a complaining about this, lol

THEKENDOMAN - 7/2/2025, 9:30 AM

@mountainman - I agree.

But since when did that [frick]ing matter🤷‍♂️

THEKENDOMAN - 7/2/2025, 9:35 AM

@Clintthahamster - Yeah, I just went to watch his performance.

And you know what? They may be onto something with him.

Lets [frick]ing see

THEKENDOMAN - 7/2/2025, 9:36 AM

@RegularPoochie - Im obviously a [frick]ing hypocritic🤦🏾‍♂️

Let me speak my [frick]ing mind😂

mountainman - 7/2/2025, 9:48 AM

@THEKENDOMAN - In Hollywood in recent years it SEEMS to have impacted box office results. Most businesses try to create products that customers want to spend money on. It’s been baffling how Hollywood has ignored this Business 101 lesson.

THEKENDOMAN - 7/2/2025, 10:16 AM

@mountainman - 100%

Hollywood has forgotten a lot of things and that includes making good movies.

thundershocked - 7/2/2025, 11:09 AM

@THEKENDOMAN - Na...keep complaining. Otherwise you end up with "ugly" sonic.

THEKENDOMAN - 7/2/2025, 11:15 AM

@thundershocked - Shiit 😂

RegularPoochie - 7/2/2025, 12:28 PM

@THEKENDOMAN - fine then😂

TMW1987ProudProWrestlingFan - 7/2/2025, 7:35 AM

This is the most miscast film (And I'm a Cody fan here) ever!

Is the casting director on Coke or what?!

Honestly, some of these choices are just F*cking weird & NOBODY except MAYBE for Callina Liang (Chun-Li) & 50 Cent (Balrog) (& he better shave for the role) look right or seem like the right people for the characters they have been cast for!

AND, IF, we're going Wrestler for Guile....... John Cena is right there! Guile like Square Jaw & has the Guile chin dimple, might even pull off the McDonald's hair if they plan on doing that.

I will say, David Dastmalchian cast as Bison, NGL, that's actually pretty inspired/Raul Julia-esque casting if we're not gonna cast some big, massive tank for the Bison role. I think he could play the role great seriously, or play it as cheesy & OTT as Raul (In a good way) as good as if not better than him depending on the route they take with how they want the character portrayed. Probably the only solid casting choice so far.

Spiderfan2226 - 7/2/2025, 10:17 AM

@TMW1987ProudProWrestlingFan - yeah Cena would be a better guile. Just give him a blonde buzz cut and he’s there. And while cena specializes in goofy comedy, he’s likely a better and more experienced actor than 2025 Cody

FusionWarrior - 7/2/2025, 7:37 AM

Sure why not?

CorndogBurglar - 7/2/2025, 7:42 AM

This movie's cast just keeps getting better lol

TheVisionary25 - 7/2/2025, 8:04 AM

The American Nightmare as “America’s Hero” is pretty damn appropriate…

I honestly like this casting since Cody definitely has the physicality for the role and has some acting experience such as Arrow (which he was fine in) and the upcoming Naked Gun film so I could see him pull this off.

Also Guile as a character shares alot of traits with Cody’s “babyface” & real life persona such as being heroic , loyal & a loving family man amongst others so he can effectively portray that imo.

I hope he gets it since dudes a legit big nerd so I’m sure this would be exciting for him!!.

RegularPoochie - 7/2/2025, 8:26 AM

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STREET FIGHTER: WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes Reportedly In Talks To Play Guile

According to a reliable source, Roman Reigns won't be the only WWE Superstar to feature in the live-action Street Fighter movie, as Cody Rhodes is in talks to play Guile...

STREET FIGHTER Live-Action Reboot Casts BAD GENIUS Star In Female Lead Role Of Chun-Li

RUMOR: THE LAST OF US Star Bella Ramsey Is Being Eyed To Play Kitty Pryde In Marvel Studios' X-MEN Reboot

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.