Analyzing the Strategic Decision to Cast Alexander Volkanovski as the Original Game Character "Joe" in the Street Fighter Film
UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski made a sensational debut on the big screen with the release of the first teaser trailer for Legendary Pictures and Paramount's live action Street Fighter movie. The trailer, which dropped at The Game Awards 2025, confirmed the highly anticipated casting of the Australian MMA star, who is set to portray the character "Joe," an underground martial arts champion from the original 1987 video game. Volkanovski’s physicality and surprising cinematic presence in the sneak peek generated immediate buzz, positioning him as a standout in the star studded ensemble cast.
The immediate reaction to Alexander Volkanovski’s appearance was a wave of positive surprise from both MMA and gaming fans, who noted how "amazing" he looked. Volkanovski is cast as "Joe," a kickboxing champion who only appeared as one of the original game's computer controlled opponents. Despite the character canonically being a tall American, the short, bald Australian champion brings undeniable combat authenticity to the role. The short trailer featured glimpses of the movie’s kinetic fight choreography, including signature moves from series stalwarts like Guile and Chun Li, suggesting that Volkanovski will bring his renowned intensity and striking power to the film's action sequences, ensuring a high level of on screen authenticity.
The strategic casting of Alexander Volkanovski highlights the film's commitment to blending professional combat sports stars with Hollywood actors, following the path laid by previous action cinema. Volkanovski joins a unique ensemble that includes fellow professional wrestlers Cody Rhodes (as Guile) and Roman Reigns (as Akuma), alongside actors like Andrew Koji (as Ryu) and Noah Centineo (as Ken Masters). This mix of real world martial arts expertise with traditional acting talent suggests a strategic effort by director Kitao Sakurai to deliver fight scenes that are both highly visual and physically credible, fulfilling the promise of a "bone-crunching" adaptation.
Looking ahead, the future outlook for Alexander Volkanovski in Hollywood is highly promising, with the Street Fighter movie serving as his major cinematic debut. Set for an international release on October 16, 2026, the film is expected to be a major crossover spectacle. For Volkanovski, this marks an exciting new chapter, showcasing his versatility beyond the UFC octagon, a move he has expressed interest in previously. If the film's action and his performance as Joe live up to the trailer’s promise, the former featherweight champion may have successfully launched a parallel career in action cinema.