By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
U.S. toymaker Hasbro has signed two key licensing deals to produce toys for the upcoming Street Fighter and Voltron films.
The Street Fighter movie is scheduled to debut in cinemas on October 16, while the live action take on the anime classic Voltron does not yet have a date for its premiere.
Hasbro this week announced its licensing partnership with Legendary Entertainment for the Street Fighter film, saying it will bring the film’s iconic characters to life through a line of action figures, toys, and collectibles.
Hasbro Has a Long History Working With Street Fighter
Hasbro’s legacy with the Street Fighter franchise hearkens back to the arcade-era phenomenon Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, when the company created a popular line of action figures, vehicles, and playsets that helped bring the game’s iconic characters from the arcade into fans’ homes worldwide.
“Returning to Street Fighter is more than a collaboration; it’s a homecoming rooted in one of the most influential video games of all time,” said Tim Kilpin, President of Toy, Licensing, and Entertainment at Hasbro. “Our work on Street Fighter II: The World Warrior gave us first-hand insight into what makes these characters so iconic.
“That connection to the franchise’s origins allows us to honor its legacy while delivering new products that capture the spirit, style, and energy fans have embraced for decades.”
Street Fighter is one of the highest grossing video game franchises in history, with total sales of 56 million units as of March 2025. It is also the first fighting game franchise, and after branching out into film, TV series, and manga comics, becoming a top global media franchise.
The first live action Street Fighter film appeared in 1987, starring Jean Claude Van Damme and pop singer Kylie Minogue.
The new Street Fighter film boasts an impressive cast, including Noah Centineo (Ken), Andrew Koji (Ryu), Callina Liang (Chung-Li), Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoai (Akuma), David Dastmalchian (M. Bison), Cody Rhodes (Guile), with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (Balrog), and Jason Momoa (Blanka), and many others.
Amber Sheppo, SVP of Consumer Products & Partnerships at Legendary, says her team is thrilled to be working with Hasbro on the new toy line for the film.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Hasbro to bring the iconic Street Fighter film and experience into the homes of devoted fans,” Sheppo said. “Legendary has a proven track record of translating beloved IP with passionate fan bases into cultural moments through our films, and we can’t wait to see audiences around the globe engage with the full Street Fighter universe both in theaters and at home.”
Hasbro’s Experience With Legacy Brands Key to New Voltron Collection
In what has been a red letter week for Hasbro, the toyco has also unveiled its plans for the long-running Voltron franchise. The licensing collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios will see Hasbro creating new action figures, toys and roleplay for the studio’s live-action Voltron movie.
Hasbro aims to bring their vast experience working on legacy franchises to the legendary world of Voltron with products and merchandise inspired by the highly anticipated film.
“Voltron’s long and rich history strategically aligns with our portfolio of iconic 80s brands,” said Tim Kilpin, President of Toy, Licensing, and Entertainment at Hasbro. “Our collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios will further strengthen the franchise’s longevity and unlock new opportunities to engage both longtime fans and new audiences alike.”
The upcoming Voltron film is directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, with the story written by Rawson Marshall Thurber and the screenplay by Ellen Shanman & Rawson Marshall Thurber.
The film will feature a standout cast, including Henry Cavill, Sterling K. Brown, Alba Baptista, Rita Ora and more. Producers include Todd Lieberman via Hidden Pictures, Bob Koplar, Rawson Marshall Thurber, and Hobie Films’ David Hoberman.