‘Game First, Then Movie’: Ed Boon Responds to Street Fighter vs Mortal Kombat Crossover Pitch
Actor Noah Centineo, who plays Ken in the new live-action Street Fighter film, said he would welcome a crossover with Mortal Kombat, and Ryu actor Andrew Koji called the idea “sick”. Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon responded that a game should come first, followed by a film, signalling interest in the long-discussed match-up.
Boon has pursued a Street Fighter crossover for decades, but former producer Yoshinori Ono said in 2019 that attempts to secure a Street Fighter guest character for Mortal Kombat were blocked by publisher Capcom. Street Fighter characters have appeared in other fighting game series, including Tekken and Fatal Fury; the article suggests Mortal Kombat’s graphic violence may be a barrier.
- Street Fighter actors welcome a crossover with Mortal Kombat.
- Ed Boon says a game should come before a film.
- Earlier crossover requests were blocked by Capcom.
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Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat are long-running fighting game series, each built around a cast of fighters facing one another. Street Fighter is published by Capcom, while Mortal Kombat was co-created by Ed Boon and is known for its graphic finishing moves.
The crossover idea has been discussed for years, but bringing characters from one series into the other would require agreement between the companies that control them. A past attempt to include a Street Fighter character in Mortal Kombat was reportedly blocked by Capcom; Street Fighter characters have crossed into other fighting game series.
A joint game or film would also have to bring together very different styles and audiences. Mortal Kombat’s violence has been suggested as one possible obstacle, while a game crossover could give both companies a way to test the pairing before a film.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A crossover could bring together two influential fighting game worlds and give fans a fresh shared experience across games and film. Starting with a game would let both studios test the pairing through gameplay and build interest before committing to a larger film project.
The case against
The series have distinct tones and audiences, and Mortal Kombat’s graphic violence may not fit Capcom’s approach to Street Fighter characters. Capcom may also reasonably weigh creative control and brand risks against uncertain commercial gains, especially given earlier difficulty securing approval.