WWE Champion Cody Rhodes Discusses Filming Street Fighter Movie
Cody Rhodes Street Fighter buzz is exploding as the WWE Street Fighter movie takes center stage, with Guile casting igniting fan fever for the Street Fighter 2026 reboot and Cody Rhodes stunts stealing the spotlight. In a candid chat on The Pat McAfee Show this week, Rhodes opened up about his transformative role as the iconic U.S. Air Force Major Guile in the highly anticipated live-action adaptation. The film, directed by Kitao Sakurai and penned by Dalan Musson, reboots the beloved Capcom franchise that first kicked off in 1987, evolving into a cultural juggernaut with over 50 million games sold worldwide. Principal photography wrapped in Australia last month, blending high-octane martial arts with nostalgic nods to Street Fighter II’s golden era.
Rhodes, who embodies the “American Nightmare” in WWE, dove headfirst into Guile’s world—a vengeance-driven soldier avenging his buddy Charlie’s death at the hands of dictator M. Bison. “The physicality was a pretty easy pickup,” Rhodes shared, crediting his wrestling pedigree for seamless transitions into fight choreography. But he didn’t stop at lines and poses. Insistent on authenticity, Rhodes pushed to handle his own stunts, collaborating with coordinator JV’s elite team on sequences that promise to thrill. “They let us have a lot of fun,” he added, hinting at a fresh take on Guile: less rigid military man, more layered warrior with Rhodes’ signature charisma.
This isn’t Rhodes’ first brush with Hollywood—he appeared in indie flicks like “Wags to Riches”—but Street Fighter marks his blockbuster leap. The ensemble screams star power: Andrew Koji as Ryu, Noah Centineo as Ken, Callina Liang as Chun-Li, Jason Momoa as the feral Blanka, 50 Cent as the brutish Balrog, and fellow WWE icon Roman Reigns as the demonic Akuma. NJPW’s Hirooki Goto rounds out the wrestler contingent as sumo powerhouse E. Honda. Set in 1993, the plot thrusts these warriors into a high-stakes tournament orchestrated by the sinister M. Bison, played by David Dastmalchian, echoing the arcade classic’s rivalries while dodging the pitfalls of past adaptations like the 1994 Jean-Claude Van Damme flop.
Fans are losing it over Rhodes’ pivot. On Reddit’s r/SquaredCircle, a teaser photo from August—showing Rhodes in Guile’s buzzcut and fatigues—racked up thousands of upvotes, with users gushing, “Hollywood Cody is here!” One commenter quipped, “From Cross Rhodes to Sonic Boom—undisputed legend.” Gaming communities on r/Fighters praise his casting for injecting “stone-cold” intensity, hoping it steers clear of Marvel-style quips. Pat McAfee himself hyped it as a “monster movie” packed with fan service, from character-select Easter eggs to brutal boss fights.
Industry insiders see this as a savvy crossover. “Rhodes brings that WWE grit—perfect for Guile’s no-nonsense vibe,” notes wrestling analyst Dave Meltzer, who points to how the film’s Australia shoot synced with WWE’s global tour, minimizing downtime. Public reactions lean electric, with X posts trending #CodyGuile and memes pitting his Flash Kick against Reigns’ Raging Demon. Bollywood ties even surfaced, as Rhodes bonded with co-star Vidyut Jammwal (Zangief) on set, dubbing him his “new best friend.”
For U.S. audiences, this fusion hits home on multiple fronts. Sports fans get a front-row seat to WWE’s entertainment empire expanding, potentially spiking merchandise sales from custom Guile tees to Street Fighter-branded Cross Rhodes replicas— a boon for the $1 billion wrestling economy. Gamers, who make up 60% of WWE’s viewership overlap, crave this nostalgia fix amid esports booms, blending arcade roots with modern spectacle. Lifestyle-wise, it’s aspirational: Rhodes’ story of grit-from-injury to champ inspires everyday hustlers, while the film’s empowerment themes resonate in a post-pandemic push for resilience. Politically neutral yet culturally charged, it spotlights American heroism through Guile’s lens, fueling debates on media’s role in shaping pop icons.
User intent here screams escapism and insider scoops—folks searching Cody Rhodes Street Fighter want stunt breakdowns and plot teases, not fluff. Managing that means delivering verified drops like Rhodes’ stunt insistence, verified via his McAfee interview, to build trust and shares.
As filming dust settles, Paramount eyes an October 16, 2026, IMAX rollout, positioning Street Fighter as Legendary’s next tentpole after Godzilla x Kong. Rhodes teases it’s “a love letter” to II purists, with his Guile twist promising depth beyond the flat-top flattop. If early hype holds, this could redefine wrestler-to-star pipelines, drawing 90s kids and Zoomers alike into theaters. The Cody Rhodes Street Fighter saga, WWE Street Fighter movie hype, Guile casting magic, Street Fighter 2026 countdown, and Cody Rhodes stunts legacy are just heating up—expect more booms on the horizon.
Sam Michael
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