Street Fighter Resurrection: A Sitdown With Christian Howard

Street Fighter: Resurrection debuts today on go90, and recently I was able to talk to Christian Howard, who reprises his role from Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist as acclaimed martial artist Ken. We talk a bit about his love for the game that the films are based on, and what Resurrection brings to the table.

Matt Mueller: You and Mike Moh have now worked together over 2 movies, but in this one you're actually not fighting against each other, but more on the same team. What do you enjoy most about working with Mike, and how has your chemistry grown over the last two films?

Christian Howard: I think it's safe to say we had a really easy rapport, which is fantastic for Ryu and Ken since these two characters are the best of friends. Mike is such a likable guy that that is really easy to do. Even though we both live in the states now, we both live in different places, so we actually hadn't seen each other in quite some time, and when we came together in London, it was literally like picking up where we left off, which is just mirroring what Ryu and Ken are like anyway. Ryu goes off on his travels and when they meet up it's just like they continue the conversation. So that was definitely like a great thing about mine and Mike's relationship, and working together this time and teaming up, people haven't really seen it before when we were facing off during Assassin's Fist, so it's great. There is kind of a synergy there, which I think comes across in the fighting styles that we're doing, even though the Street Fighter V sort of timeline is like, Ryu and Ken have diversified a bit, it's almost like we know each other's thinking, we finish each other's sandwiches.

MM: Haha, for a minute there it sounded like you said "finish each other's sandwiches", and I was going to be like that is a really good friend.

CH: Hahaha, it was my little joke of like "finish each other's sentences" and then the other person goes "finish each other's s..sandwiches", haha, so anyway.

MM: That's a really good friend, though. I don't share food, like with anyone, so you're a better person than me.

You mentioned that you guys kind of pick up where you left off, but it is set 10 years after the events of Assassin's Fist. What was different about Ryu and Ken's friendship, since they started out more as rivals. Is a hint of that still there, or have they become more brothers than anything?

CH: I think it was more of a competitive edge thing, but 10 years down the line, it's like a lifetime has passed so I think that friendship, that bond, has certainly developed over the last 10 years since Assassin's Fist, and they've spent the better part of most of their lives together, training and getting to know each other inside and out. And even though the storyline is taking place now, in the present day, you still have to take into account everything that happened in World Warrior, even though we haven't seen that as the audience yet. We as the characters have experienced that, and we've taken Bison down once before, so that was a very interesting dynamic, dealing with the past just internally with our characters.

MM: That's interesting because the audience hasn't seen a film based on that, but the jump in time does account for all the games in between. How deeply into that lore and the various games and stories, because some of these characters have so many ties to everybody else it's just a big web. How much of that did they pay attention to and try to implement into Resurrection?

CH: Well I think, everyone is kind of intertwined now since the Street Fighter 2 tournament, and even before Joey and I wrote Assassin's Fist, we had written a treatment for a World Warrior storyline that kind of covered all of that ground of like fighting shadaloo and where Ryu, Ken, Guile, and Chun-Li all fit into the story, so with that kind of in mind, and some of these things change all the time. Capcom is always sort of retrofitting information like oh, it turns out these two knew each other 10 years ago when they were in college or something. The foundations are all going to be there, though, as well as a lot of the little details, and you'll get mentions of some characters that may be coming or appearing in World Warrior, and together it will all make sense.

MM: In Fist it focused on a closer group, because while there were many characters in Assassin's Fist, there were only 3 or 4 main ones that formed the crux of it. In this one, there are a couple of new members, including Nash, played by Alain Moussi. As far as the fight between you guys, how was it working with someone new?

CH: Because I worked with Mike before we kind of speak the same language during the fight scenes, and we know where each other is going to be. Alain came on board and just basically jumped straight in. He's a phenomenally talented actor and martial artist. He runs his own school and he's great. Very powerful guy, knows how to hold back and when to go all in, and have to say it was a real joy. Like the fights we put together, you get a glimpse of them in the trailer, where it's me and Ryu against Nash, and it was such a joy to do. Everyone is on point, and there were no people messing up. I mean things are always going to happen, and when it was necessary we took real hits, and then it was like okay, just put that one in and we'll make it for the cameras and take a bump on that, and we all had to do that once or twice, so yeah he and everyone on this was a joy to work with.

MM: Speaking of the combat and fight scenes themselves, is there anything that the production team won't let you do? Like, are there certain types of martial arts or certain moves that they are just like "no, we can't have you doing that one" during the planning out of these scenes?

CH: Well just like Assassin's Fist we adhered closely to the moves in the game, and I think that's why people really respected what we did with the fights, because it wasn't like well, let's just have them boxing or MMA or something, it was like, what do these characters really do. That's also what is interesting about Resurrection as well, is that you are getting a more diverse move set because you have not just the core characters like Ryu, Ken, Akuma, and Gouken, but also Nash, Laura, and Decapre, and they're all doing a unique and particular style of moves while staying true to the game as well.

MM: I'm a Nash fan. I think it's because when I saw him come into the game it reminded me of Nash Bridges, which I'm like one of the 5 fans of that show, so I live vicariously through the video game.

The trailer really impressed, and I've seen Assassin's Fist, so I know you guys already skew closer to the actual moves in the game, and you do a really good job with that, but it was cool seeing his moves added in.

Now, of course, you have played Ken and grown accustomed to the character. Why do you think he continues to be so popular? Ryu and Ken have been the mainstays of the series, along with Chun-Li, but for some reason, Ken has always been extremely popular, whether it's in cosplays or just fan appreciation. Why do you think that is?

CH: Well and he was already my favorite even before I had anything to do with making a live-action film. I think it's because he has that charisma and that cheekiness, and because of that he can get away with a lot of stuff, and he doesn't follow the rules as much. Ryu is kind of straight edged, and he's all about the warriors journey and staying on track. Ken is a little more free, and that is definitely appealing to me, because with a character like that you can push the boundaries a bit. It's akin to when people say it is much more fun to play a villain, as you get to do a lot more stuff then if you follow the rules, and in terms of Ryu and Ken kind of being Yin and Yang, that's what I get to do, and that sort of playfulness is why people enjoy him, and he's popular, so you get to be the showoff, which is great for me. While I get to do the fancy moves, it's like "that's okay Ryu, you just do the hard punches and I'll try and do the slick stuff".

MM: Yeah, and Ken was always the one you wanted to go get a beer with, and Ryu was the responsible one. He seemed to be the one that no one hung out with in school, but then years and years later he is ultra successful because he actually applied himself while you were out having fun.

CH: Right right haha.

MM: Well I'm looking forward to the movie, and thanks so much for taking some time out to talk to me. Really appreciate it.

CH: Oh I appreciate it too, thanks so much.

Street Fighter: Resurrection is now available on go90.com