Callina Liang’s Battle-Worn ‘Street Fighter’ Set Photos Reveal What It Took To Become Chun-Li
Few roles in gaming history carry as much weight as Chun-Li, and Callina Liang has spent the past year proving she was ready for the fight. Introduced in 1991 as the franchise’s first playable female character, Chun-Li has grown into a genuine pop culture symbol, even inspiring a Nicki Minaj track named after her.
That legacy made the casting a big deal when Liang landed the part in June 2025. Before stepping into the iconic blue qipao, the Canadian actress had appeared in Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’ and the 2024 ‘Bad Genius’ remake.
Now that the movie has finally reached theaters, fans are getting a closer look at what happened between takes. On October 16, HiddenGemCinema shared a pair of behind-the-scenes images from Liang, offering a glimpse at the making of the new ‘Street Fighter’ movie.
The first is a mirror selfie of Liang in full costume, complete with Chun-Li’s signature hair buns, scuffed fabric, and fight makeup on her arms. The second shows a lighter moment outdoors, with a towering, bearded crew member or co-star scooping Liang up in his arms beside a brick building on a sunny day.
Callina Liang gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming ‘STREET FIGHTER’ movie. 📸 https://t.co/yO3qXd5ckN
— HiddenGemCinema (@HiddenGemCinema) October 16, 2026
The photos echo the gritty set images she began sharing last month. In one, she stood beside a production trailer marked “3. CHUN-LI,” her costume torn and dirty, with bruising and blood makeup suggesting she had just wrapped one of the character’s rougher scenes.
Liang has made a point of keeping things unfiltered. When she posted one clip from set, she captioned it with a blunt note that she didn’t have time to photoshop, letting the raw images speak for the physical work behind the role.
Fans have responded warmly. Many online praised just how closely her look mirrors Chun-Li’s classic design, from the spiked wrist cuffs to the hair buns. That authenticity didn’t come easily. Speaking to Empire, Liang explained that because Chun-Li is built around kicks, she trained in Taekwondo, Muay Thai, and wushu for 2 hours a day while strengthening her legs and drastically changing her diet.
The bulking phase was intense, with Liang eating 12 eggs a day and having a meal every 2 hours, which she admitted nearly made her sick. By the end of the shoot, she said she had added significant muscle to her legs to match the character’s kick-heavy fighting style.
She also studied the source material obsessively. Liang downloaded every version of ‘Street Fighter’ onto a PS5 and recorded Chun-Li’s moves in slow motion on her phone so she could replay and learn them.
PERFECT! Watch the New Trailer for Street Fighter, hitting theaters everywhere October 16. https://t.co/jAAPf1k9jf
— Street Fighter Movie (@Street_Fighter) September 1, 2026
The setting in Liang’s new photos fits the production’s history. Filming took place mostly in Sydney, with indoor scenes shot at Disney Studios in Moore Park and additional locations including Maroubra Beach and Luna Park.
Production began on August 18, 2025, under director Kitao Sakurai, working from a screenplay by Dalan Musson. The cast also includes Andrew Koji as Ryu, Noah Centineo as Ken, Jason Momoa as Blanka, and Olivier Richters as Zangief, among many others.
Set in 1993, the film follows estranged fighters Ryu and Ken as Chun-Li recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament. Behind the competition lies a deadly conspiracy that forces them to confront each other and their past.
Even outside the costume, Liang has kept the energy going. During the final stretch of the press tour, she shared photos from promotional rounds and was pictured in Los Angeles beside a full display of Chun-Li’s blue outfit.
With ‘Street Fighter’ now in theaters, these candid snapshots serve as a reminder of how much sweat, grime, and dedication went into bringing one of gaming’s most beloved heroines to the big screen.
What impresses you most about Callina Liang’s transformation into Chun-Li in Street Fighter?
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