A stunt double playing Chun-Li in the upcoming live-action Street Fighter movie wore butt padding during production to accurately match the video game character's iconic muscular physique, according to director Kitao Sakurai.
Speaking in an interview with IGN, Sakurai shared the story from the set of the upcoming video game adaptation. He recalled noticing the stunt double while filming a scene near the conclusion of the movie. Upon asking crew members what the performer was wearing, he discovered she had put on padding on her buttocks to match the lower body of lead actress Callina Liang. Sakurai noted that the effort demonstrated the serious commitment of his production team to capturing the character accurately.
Chun-Li is an iconic Chinese martial artist in Capcom's Street Fighter video game franchise, famous for her signature qipao costume and muscular legs. First appearing in Street Fighter II in 1991, she became one of the earliest playable female characters in fighting game history. The Street Fighter franchise itself began in 1987 and remains one of Capcom's flagship gaming properties.
Physical Preparation for the Role
Liang previously described the rigorous routine she undertook to bring Chun-Li to life on screen. To build up her lower body and bring her figure closer to the game character, the actress ate 12 eggs every day, eventually increasing her thighs by 6.5 centimeters.
Tournament Plot and Cast
The storyline of the new film takes place in 1993. Martial artists Ryu and Ken encounter Chun-Li, who invites the pair to join an international fighting tournament. However, the contest serves merely as a cover for a larger threat, leaving the martial artists with no choice but to fight each other for survival.
The Street Fighter film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on October 16. Alongside Liang as Chun-Li, the movie stars rapper 50 Cent as the boxer Balrog, Jason Momoa as the wild fighter Blanka, David Dastmalchian as the villainous M. Bison, and Andrew Schulz as Dan Hibiki.
