Callina Liang Felt Pressure From Reddit Over Chun-Li Casting in Street Fighter Movie
Callina Liang discussed feeling pressure after reading Reddit comments about her casting as Chun-Li in the Street Fighter film. She acknowledged fans' expectations for the character's physique but noted she had only two months to prepare. Liang said she aimed to put in maximum effort and accept the outcome, while eating twelve eggs daily and meals every two hours to build muscle.
Liang told Project Big Screen that a Reddit discussion about her physique after Deadline announced her casting made her feel significant pressure. As a fan of the games and anime, she understood why audiences pictured Chun-Li with an exaggerated build, but she had only two months before filming.
To prepare, she trained in Taekwondo, Muay Thai, and Wushu for two hours daily, changed her diet, ate twelve eggs a day, and ate every two hours while bulking. Her thighs each gained 6.5 centimeters; her stunt double reportedly used padding to match her silhouette. Street Fighter opens October 16.
The viral scrutiny around Liang’s casting may intensify debates about how closely live-action performers should match video-game characters’ bodies. It could place added pressure on actors in physically demanding roles, influence fan expectations on platforms like Reddit, and prompt wider discussion about realistic preparation timelines, stunt coordination, and healthy body transformation. Audiences and industry workers may feel these effects most directly.