Street Fighter's Callina Liang reveals Chun-Li's original, finger-chopping fate
Callina Liang says she used fan skepticism about her casting as Chun-Li as motivation, per The Hollywood Reporter. When she got the role, the actor understood concerns that her physique didn't yet match the iconic video game fighter. She agreed, and used it as fuel for a dramatic physical transformation.
Liang tells THR she underwent intense training, ate 12 eggs a day, and worked out multiple times weekly. She specifically built up her legs to match Chun-Li's powerful kick-focused style, adding nearly three inches to her thighs.
A major plot point was changed in development, the actor reveals. An early version of the script had Chun-Li chopping off a finger as part of a loyalty ritual to join the villain M. Bison's syndicate, Shadaloo. According to Liang, the video game's creator, Capcom, went back and forth with the filmmakers on the idea.
She says Capcom and the creative team eventually reached a compromise. Instead of losing a finger, Chun-Li receives a branding on her inner palm as the mark of Shadaloo. Liang notes that if she had lost a pinky, it would have meant deforming the character for any potential sequels.
Liang also admits to THR she was a little disappointed Chun-Li didn't get to personally take down Bison by the film's end. She hopes a potential sequel could explore that final confrontation.
