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Callina Liang Opens up About the Fan Love Surrounding Her ‘Street Fighter’ Chun-Li

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Stepping into the role of Chun-Li was never going to be a small task. The character debuted in ‘Street Fighter II’ in 1991 and quickly became one of the franchise’s most beloved fighters, an Interpol agent famous for her blue qipao, space buns, and lightning-fast kicks.

For Callina Liang, the pressure came with some big shoes to fill. Ming-Na Wen played Chun-Li in the 1994 film, while Kristin Kreuk later led ‘Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li’ in 2009, and both earlier adaptations received mixed or negative reactions.

Now, ahead of the film’s release, Liang is soaking up the support. Speaking with DiscussingFilm at the ‘Street Fighter’ premiere, the actress said she is deeply grateful to the fans who have rallied behind her take on Chun-Li.

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She described the excitement around the movie as having an amazing energy, adding that it makes all the hard work feel worthwhile. Liang also said she loves seeing fans cosplay as the character and can never get enough of it.

Her gratitude makes sense given how much she put into the role. In an interview with Empire, Liang explained that she trained in Taekwondo, Muay Thai, and Wushu for 2 hours a day to master Chun-Li’s kick-heavy fighting style.

She also overhauled her diet, eating 12 eggs a day during her bulking phase, and said she studied every version of the game by recording Chun-Li’s moves in slow motion. By the end of filming, she said each of her thighs had grown 6.5 centimeters.

The role marks a major leap for the Canadian actress. Liang broke out as Chloe in Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’, playing Lucy Liu’s daughter in the haunted-house thriller that premiered at Sundance in 2024.

Her credits also include the thriller ‘Bad Genius’ and a recurring role on Apple TV+’s ‘Foundation’. Liang speaks both English and Mandarin fluently, and her casting as Chun-Li was first reported by Deadline in June 2025.

In the new film, Chun-Li drives much of the action. Set in 1993, the story follows estranged fighters Ryu and Ken Masters, played by Andrew Koji and Noah Centineo, who are pulled back into combat when Chun-Li recruits them for the World Warrior Tournament.

Behind the tournament lies a deadly conspiracy that forces the old rivals to confront each other and their past. Directed by Kitao Sakurai, the film also features Jason Momoa, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes and Orville Peck.

Liang’s enthusiasm has been on display throughout the promotional run. She joined her co-stars at a photocall in London earlier this month and appeared at a Los Angeles press event beside a display of Chun-Li’s signature blue costume.

The film’s Los Angeles premiere took place on October 12 at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Seeing fans embrace the character in person, from cosplayers to longtime gamers, clearly means a great deal to her.

‘Street Fighter’ remains one of the best-selling fighting game franchises ever, with more than 55 million units sold worldwide. That huge built-in audience means expectations for the new adaptation are high. If the early fan reaction is any indication, Liang’s Chun-Li has already won over a big part of that audience. The real test comes when the film reaches theaters on October 16.

Are you excited to see Callina Liang take on the iconic role of Chun-Li in Street Fighter?

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