Why ‘Talk to Me’ Directors Ditched ‘Street Fighter’ Movie: ‘We’d F*ck It Up’

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In 2023, Danny and Michael Philippou, previously recognized as YouTube duo RackaRacku, skyrocketed to fame with their debut feature film, “Talk to Me.” This sudden rise catapulted them into Hollywood’s limelight, a contrast from their earlier days. The movie’s success paved the way for them to secure the opportunity to adapt a contemporary version of the popular video game “Street Fighter.” However, they unexpectedly departed from this project, with the news at the time attributing it to scheduling issues. Recently, the Philippous have disclosed the true reasons behind their departure from the planned adaptation of the cherished video game series.

The filmmaking team, these creative siblings, are all set to debut their upcoming horror movie titled “Bring Her Back“. At a special screening of the film, Collider got a chance to chat with them about their creative choices. They revealed that they prefer sticking to original, non-adapted works rather than IP adaptations like “Street Fighter”. It turns out that it wasn’t just scheduling issues that caused them to step away from “Street Fighter”; instead, they felt their potential was better utilized in creating original movies. They found that “Street Fighter” didn’t align well with the projects they had planned, as Michael Phillippou put it.

Originally, we had been working on a significant intellectual property (IP), not a horror game, but one resembling Street Fighter. Our enthusiasm for this project was high, as developing it proved to be an enjoyable experience. However, scheduling issues made it difficult to continue, and the timing didn’t align with our plans. As a result, we chose to concentrate on our initial projects instead.

Following the departure of key personnel, the Street Fighter live-action movie continued in production, but without a head. Despite this, it was given a 2026 release date, and Kitao Sakurai was eventually named as director. However, these plans were dismantled when Sony Pictures abandoned the project and took it off their upcoming releases list just last month. As of now, the fate of the Street Fighter movie is uncertain.

Danny Phillippou Thought They’d “F*ck It Up”

Danny Phillippou commented, “I believe we might not do it justice,” while discussing their proposed Street Fighter movie aimed at resurrecting the gaming franchise. Previously, a 1994 live-action adaptation of the game received harsh criticism from critics. Phillippou further stated:

Generally, I avoid dealing with IP matters not due to lack of interest, but because I fear making mistakes and disappointing the large, established audiences associated with these projects. The thought of letting down so many people, potentially causing them to say things like ‘what was that?’ or ‘I’m sorry,’ is my worst nightmare. As for remakes, the original versions are usually exceptional, which makes me worry about whether I possess the talent required.

In 2025, the Phillippou brothers plan to return to the horror genre with “Bring Her Back,” a chilling film that brings them together once more with A24. This independent studio has also agreed to produce the upcoming sequel to “Talk to Me” titled “Talk 2 Me.” Michael expressed their eagerness for the opportunity to work on unique, smaller-scale projects, which they hope will eventually lead them to bigger film ventures.

Thanks to YouTube, we’ve managed to bring our smaller creative concepts to life – details such as intricate set designs and miniature fight sequences. Although bigger projects, which have long been brewing in our minds, remain unrealized for now, we are incredibly grateful for the chance to create them. These ideas refuse to leave our thoughts until they become reality… We’re eager to explore many unique movie concepts that we’ve been itching to produce.

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2025-04-02 17:34