It is something I would have loved to have seen in the 90s when most of these actors were in their prime doing their stuff, not now.
As a fan of the Fatal Fury games in the 90s, I used to always think it would have been amazing if it was turned into a film, I was such a big fan that I even came up with the characters that could be played by these actors.
So here it is and do give me your opinions and let me know what you all think!
Loren Avedon as Terry Bogard
WHY? Loren Avedon has played many American martial arts heroes in films and with his skills as a martial artist (master of Korean arts; Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido) with amazing kicking ability, equally with both legs, he's the right man to play the All-American hero - Terry Bogard. Whose skillset consists of various kicking moves, and also, I think Loren will look good in blonde hair too.
Brad Pitt as Andy Bogard
WHY? Not only is he a great actor but quite an adept athlete too (as seen in Troy), also if the likes of Keanu Reeves could do what he did in the Matrix films, Tom Cruise do the same in the Mission Impossible series of films, Cameron Diaz do what she did in Charlie's Angels films and even Eric Roberts do The Best Of The Best, then Brad Pitt can definitely do Andy Bogard - whose art is more punch based than his brother, Terry's.
OR
Jeff Pruitt as Andy Bogard
WHY? An excellent martial artist, stuntman and stunt coordinator who worked on hit TV shows, Power Rangers and Buffy. This guy has the fastest hands and kicks I've seen on TV, a master of Tang Soo Do and other martial arts, and with his boyish looks, he is the ideal man to play Andy Bogard, the calculating ninja master.
Robin Shou as Joe Higashi
WHY? I know many will say Tony Jaa but he is Thai and Joe Higashi is Japanese, I understand that Robin Shou isn't Japanese either but he is a better choice in terms of looks and also being trained in San Shou/Sanda (Chinese Kickboxing) AND Muay Thai, he seems to be the best choice so far - without mentioning Cung Le; cos I didn't want a professional fighter but an actual actor for this part.
OR
Don "The Dragon" Wilson as Joe Higashi
WHY? Joe Higashi is a Muay Thai Kickboxing champion from Japan, and real life 11 time World Kickboxing Champion, Don "The Dragon" Wilson, is also of Japanese descent. With his skills, personality and experience in playing martial arts action heroes, Don "The Dragon" Wilson can definitely embody this quirky and brash fighter.
Gary Daniels as Billy Kane
WHY? Just look at this image, they look just like each other and they're both British! Gary Daniels is a British martial artist who trained in various styles, not to be underestimated, and instead of getting an American martial artist/actor to play this part with a bad British accent (which I do not wish to see & hear as I have seen and heard WAY too many), I think Gary Daniels is right for the part of this British bo-staff fighter, Billy Kane.
Marshall Teague as Geese Howard
WHY? I know one is blonde and other has dark hair but Marshall Teague is a true bad ass who can play this bad ass villain to the T. Marshall Teague is an excellent actor and an equally talented martial artist, he has black belts in Hapkido and Taekwondo, and was also a Navy Heavyweight Kickboxing champion. Seeing him play many bad-ass villains over the years, he is the best man for the job to play this crime lord whose fighting style is very similar to Hapkido (strong strikes & kicks with grapples & counter attacks).
OR
Steven Seagal as Geese Howard
Chuck Norris as Jeff Bogard
WHY? A Japanese mystic who is an expert in with weapons mainly and looks good in a kasa hat, being a fan of the old master in American Ninja and American Samurai, I just thought he would be best as he played those parts really well and seemed very mystical too as the ninja and samurai master, also he looks good in a kasa (as seen in American Ninja).
Bruce Locke as Ryuji Yamazaki
WHY? A towering psychopathic Yakuza gangster/thug, seeing Bruce Locke play the Japanese corporation's cyborg in Robocop 3 and also the treacherous Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat Conquest TV series, I could not think of anyone better and also standing at 6'2" tall he has the height, build, talent and looks to play this crazy criminal.
Walter Jones as Duck King
WHY? A break dancer with martial arts skills too (black belts in Goju Ryu Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Capoeira), who other than the guy who played one of my favourite Power Rangers back in the days to play the funky dancing street fighting b-boy, Duck King, with skills just like "Hip Hop Kido" (Zack Taylor the Black Ranger's martial arts mixed with dancing) he looks the part and can definitely pull off the moves too.
Stan Shaw as Michael Max
Jen Sung as Hwa Jai
OR
Steven Seagal as Geese Howard
WHY? I know one is blonde and other has dark hair but they do have other similarities. Their fighting styles are very similar - Aikido, Jujutsu, Bushido, Kobudo, etc. Samurai/Japanese style martial arts with lots of counter attacks and throws. Also, their characteristics are very similar too - the slicked back hair, Japanese fighting style and of course being very arrogant!
Chuck Norris as Jeff Bogard
WHY? Jeff Bogard (the adoptive father of our heroes - Andy & Terry) is an outstanding father figure, positive role model, pillar of the community, generous philanthropist, really nice guy, respected gentleman, champion martial artist and well-liked by all who know him - all of Chuck Norris' characteristics. Also, Terry Bogard's fighting style is derived from Jeff's, having been taught by him and also both Loren Avedon and Chuck Norris are masters of Korean martial arts (Avedon - Hapkido & Tae Kwon Do; Norris - Tang Soo Do & Tae Kwon Do), I couldn't think of anyone better than Chuck Norris to play this guy! AND Terry's style of fighting is a very unique blend of street fighting and a mix of various other martial arts, and Chuck Norris has created a style known as Chun Kuk Do (The Universal Way - similar to Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do [Way Of The Intercepting Fist]), which can be learnt by Loren for his character and also taught by Jeff Bogard to a young Terry.
Yasuaki Kurata as Takuma Sakazaki (Mr. Karate)
WHY? Very similar to Jeff Bogard in many ways and master of a full contact karate style (fictional Kyokugenryu Karate inspired by Kyokushin Kai Karate), a very powerful fighter with amazing skills and being Japanese, who else better than the Japanese Bruce Lee (Yasuaki Kurata; also a black belt in Kyokushin Karate) to play this character. I know the fans will say that he may have nothing to do with the Fatal Fury series of games but according to his back story (not really cannon), he was the one who defeated (and weakened) Jeff Bogard and Geese was the one who came in with the killing strike (cheap shot) so that is why I kept this character in here (and also, I am a big fan of Yasuaki Kurata).
Or
Sonny Chiba as Takuma Sakazaki (Mr. Karate)
WHY? Takuma Sakazaki (founder of the fictional martial art, Kyokugenryu Karate in the King Of Fighters universe) was inspired by the founder of the full contact karate system, Kyokushin Kaarate; Masutatsu Oyama. Sonny Chiba is not only a black belt in Kyokushin Karate but is a direct student of the founder himself and has also portrayed Mas Oyama in 3 films. So I do think he would be another great choice to portray this tough, hard-as-nails full-contact karate master.
Matthias Hues as Wolfgang Krauser
WHY? I think it is obvious, a German character being played by a German actor & martial artist. Wolfgang Krauser is a German aristocrat, a nobleman, who is a strong and powerful fighter yet still very agile and fast even at his height and size; in general, Krauser is a true gentleman who is very kind and gentle but in battle he is a brute whose opponents end up being crippled by him. Matthias Hues; who is one of the nicest human beings you'll ever meet (and I guarantee that as I had the honour and pleasure of meeting him), he is so sweet and kind but on-screen he played some scary villains and for a big, muscular guy he can move very swiftly with great flexibility. He was born to play this part; they're both German men, standing at 2 metres tall, very muscular and agile fighters!
NOTE: I have both Marshall Teague and Steven Seagal (dark-haired) playing a blonde-haired character (Geese Howard) and I have a blonde-haired man (Matthias Hues) playing Wolfgang Krauser (who has dark hair). If they don't mind dying their hairs for the fans but I would keep it as these are iconic actors and their characters are half brothers too!
Big Van Vander as Raiden/Big Bear
WHY? Other than the obvious, this character being based on this WWF wrestler I think we don't need to say much more. I know wrestlers as actors don't always work out, them being bad actors (apart from Jesse Ventura) but he was quite good as Frankie The Enforcer Sr in Boy Meets World.
Tammy Lauren as Blue Mary
WHY? Smart, skilled martial artist and an undercover cop. Tammy Lauren is all those things who has played many cops, I also thought about Kristy Swanson who looks the part more but her acting has a lot to improve on after seeing her play Buffy The Vampire slayer in the movie and seeing Tammy Lauren play the cop in Martial Law (with Sammo Hung) I think the choice was obvious (for me anyway).
OR
Sophia Crawford as Blue Mary
WHY? Sofia Crawford is a spectacular martial artist and stunt woman, she stunt doubled for Buffy The Vampire Slayer and the Pink Power Ranger. She is the British Cynthia Rothrock, she looks like Blue Mary and can definitely fight like her too.
Sung Hi Lee as Mai Shiranui
WHY? I understand that Sung Hi Lee is Korean and Mai Shiranui is Japanese, but she does look the part and seeing her play Lady Shiva in Birds Of Prey live action TV series and even a femme fatale character in Mortal Kombat Conquest, who better than this glamour girl to play the ninja bimbo.
Pat Morita (RIP) - Tung Fu Rue
WHY? The famous Mr. Miyagi and Master Tung look alike, act alike and even fight alike. Can't go wrong to have Pat Morita to play this wise old kung fu master.
Victor Wong (RIP) as Jubei Yamada
WHY? Yamada is a comic relief but also a wise old master, Wong is popular for his role as the funny mystic in Big Trouble In Little China and also playing the funny old ninja master in the 3 Ninjas series of films, who else better to play this kookie (but wise) old judo master.
NOTE: I have Pat Morita (a Japanese) playing a Chinese character (Tung Fu Rue) and a Chinese man (Victor Wong) playing a Japanese character (Jubei Yamada).
Peter Malota as Laurence Blood
WHY? One of the best kickers I have seen, an excellent martial artist and fight choreographer, most popular for his role as the assassin with spurs on his cowboy boots in Double Impact (with Van Damme) and also played the Spanish fighter in The Quest (with Van Damme too) - thus best person for the job, just needs to grow a beard.
Ho Sung Pak as Kim Kap Hwan
WHY? Korean-American martial artist, stunt man and actor, highly skilled in Tae Kwon Do and Wushu. This man has the skills, the looks and the talent to play the high flying and fast kicking Tae Kwon Do master, Kim Kap Hwan. Interestingly enough, rumour has it, that Kim Kap Hwan's sons; Kim Dong Hwan and Kim Jae Hoon, in the sequel - Garou: Mark Of The Wolves, were very much inspired from Ho Sung Pak and his brother, Ho Young Pak.
Don Frye as Franco Bash
WHY? Not only in looks but in skill too, Don Frye is a mixed martial artist and cage fighter who has the looks, the build and the skills to play this street fighting kickboxer, who is a play on Super Mario.
Paco Christian Prieto as Richard Meyer
WHY? A master of capoeira who done many fights scenes with some great names in kung fu action films, this man can definitely play Richard Meyer, a master of Capoeira too.
Joselito 'Amen' Santo as Bob Wilson
WHY? Cool black guys with dreadlocks that are maestres of Capoeira, enough said. A true capoeira mestre (master) who was in Only The Strong (1993), in the beginning he does a demo with Mark Dacascos and you can see he is a true master of the art.
Sammo Hung as Cheng Sinzan
WHY? I could not find anyone better to play this fat, Taiwanese Kung Fu fighter who is also quite swift, agile and acrobatic, also looks good in a suit while doing what he does too.
Donnie Yen as Hon Fu
WHY? A Hong Kong cop who is a master of the nunchaku and northern Chinese style Kung Fu, with his characteristics being a mix of Bruce Lee (from Enter The Dragon) and Jackie Chan (from Police Story), so Donnie Yen is the next best thing.
Bruce Locke as Ryuji Yamazaki
WHY? A towering psychopathic Yakuza gangster/thug, seeing Bruce Locke play the Japanese corporation's cyborg in Robocop 3 and also the treacherous Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat Conquest TV series, I could not think of anyone better and also standing at 6'2" tall he has the height, build, talent and looks to play this crazy criminal.
Walter Jones as Duck King
WHY? A break dancer with martial arts skills too (black belts in Goju Ryu Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Capoeira), who other than the guy who played one of my favourite Power Rangers back in the days to play the funky dancing street fighting b-boy, Duck King, with skills just like "Hip Hop Kido" (Zack Taylor the Black Ranger's martial arts mixed with dancing) he looks the part and can definitely pull off the moves too.
Stan Shaw as Michael Max
WHY? I know this character is inspired by Mike Tyson (like Balrog/Mike Bison from Street Fighter) but after seeing Stan Shaw, playing a boxer in the film Snake Eyes (as seen in the pic), with Nicolas Cage and also a boxer in the first Rocky film (Big Dipper), he's one of the boxers in Mickey's gym who gets Rocky's locker and also playing a boxer in Harlem Nights with Eddie Murphy. An excellent actor and from what I have seen in Snake Eyes, Harlem Nights & Rocky, definitely the man for the job.
Telly Savalas (RIP) as Axel Hawk
WHY? Whenever I saw Kojak reruns on TV, I always thought that Telly Savalas would make an excellent Kingpin back in the days, if there was ever a Spiderman and/or Daredevil film; he had the height, build and the looks. When I first played as Axel Hawk, I thought it was the Kingpin with boxing gloves on.Jen Sung as Hwa Jai
WHY? After seeing him play the Muay Thai (Siamese) fighter (as seen in the pic) in the film, The Quest (starring Van Damme & Peter Malota), I thought he would have been a good Joe Higashi but then if not Joe then why not his rival Muay Thai fighter, Hwa Jai!
Ashton Chen and Steve Hao as Jin Chonshu and Jin Chonrei
WHY? When I first saw these two in Shaolin Popey 2 Messy Temple (as pictured), these two characters were amazingly portrayed by both Ashton Chen and Steve Hao. They would be greatly cast as the Jin twins with their kung fu skills and acting chops, they were hilarious and had great repertoire on screen as young Shaolin Kung Fu disciples.
Greg Rainwater as Rick Strowd
WHY? Rick Strowd is a Native American boxer and Greg Rainwater is of Native American descent too. He was wasted as T. Hawk in the Street Fighter film, a role that should have gone to the likes of Sonny Landham or Michael Horse but Greg Rainwater will definitely be good as Rick Strowd.
Thank you!!
Nice choice. Wired to see brad Pitt with long hair
ReplyDeleteSaj... a dream cast indeed. Thanks for thinking of me as Terry Bogard! It would have been a great film/series. Well before its time. Seems that Sylvester Stalone has taken your idea and made "The Expendables" :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for making me the star here, also making me and Brad Pitt brothers - he's not only a good actor but a good person too and Chuck Norris as our dad, what an awesome family. LOL.
I see you have Peter Malota there, he was one of my first teacher at the Jun Chong. He has some of the most powerful kicks ever, with a simple hook kick he would suspend a 100 pound in mid air sending it swinging. Peter's a great guy!
If only we could make a film with all this talent. Wow. The whole cast is great, even the dead ones. LOL
Man, only if this ever happened. For you to even have the man, Mr Avedon comment, means something. I knew this cast was great the day I saw it in Uni.
ReplyDeleteMan, make it happen. Like fans did with SF: assassin fists, U can do. Not even Hollywood can cast like you have. Great job.
Thanks dude, I appreciate it coming from you. But now I think Marvel is doing a great job doing some amazing casting of their characters in their films.
DeleteCool idea could you imagine the money needed to finance such a project. It's like years ago Sammo Hung had the rights to Soul Calibur, he wanted to cast Jackie and Yuen Biao,along with Cynthia and so many top stars, Sammo is probably one of the few people to be able to pull something like this off, you only to have look at his films, Eastern Condors, and Shanghai Express, we can but wish..
ReplyDeleteGreat Fancast,this would have been the ultimate 90s martial arts flick if this movie happened,Some of the actors like Hues,Vader,Hung,Lateef Crowder and Walter Jones could still play those roles if a movie was made in the near future. Segal would have been perfect as Geese back in the day,if a movie was being made today Van Damme would be perfect for Geese
ReplyDelete