Soviet fighter Zangief in the Street Fighter game adaptation will be played by "The Dutch Giant"

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In the adaptation of the cult fighting game series Street Fighter, Soviet ring legend Zangief, known as the "Red Cyclone," will be played by Olivier Richters — an actor and bodybuilder standing 7'2" tall, nicknamed "The Dutch Giant."

He starred in the series "Reacher" and also appeared in films "The King's Man" and "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny". Paramount and Legendary chose him for the role of one of the universe's most vibrant characters, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

About Zangief's Role

Zangief first appeared in Street Fighter II in 1991. His fighting style was built on powerful throws and grapples — this was groundbreaking for fighting games at the time.

The character was based on Soviet wrestler Viktor Zangiev, a European and world youth champion and USSR Master of Sport. Since then, the character has become firmly established in gaming culture and regularly returned in new installments of the series and adaptations.
Cartoon man with mohawk extends his hand forward, actor Olivier Richters in gray suit on the right
Zangief's version from Street Fighter 6 game and actor Olivier Richters
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Film Plot and Cast

The upcoming film's plot unfolds in 1993 — exactly when Street Fighter II took over arcade machines worldwide. The story follows former street fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) as they receive an invitation from the mysterious Chun-Li (Kallina Liang) to the World Warrior Tournament. But behind the brutal competition lies a conspiracy that could pit the heroes against each other and their past.

Besides Richters, the film will feature Melanie Jarnson (Cammy White), rapper 50 Cent (Balrog), Jason Momoa (Blanka), and wrestler Roman Reigns (Akuma). The director is Kitao Sakurai, known for adapting "Gintama". The premiere is scheduled for October 16, 2026.

Previous Adaptations

Street Fighter has been adapted for screens multiple times, but success has been rare.
Ultra Street Fighter II game trailer
In 1994, a film of the same name was released starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Kylie Minogue, which despite its box office failure became a cult classic thanks to its absurdity and the actors' charisma. In 2009, they tried "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li" — the film flopped with both critics and audiences. There were also anime and web series, but the franchise never managed to produce a real hit.

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Street Fighter is a Capcom game series that became the progenitor of the fighting game genre. The first installment came out in 1987, but Street Fighter II was the one that revolutionized everything: unique move systems, character selection, and arcade dynamics.

By 1993, the game had achieved cult status and, according to Wikipedia, remains one of the best-selling games in the genre's history. And earlier, we at zoomboola.com covered the adaptation of another popular game — Mass Effect.