"STREET FIGHTER: WORLD WARRIOR" -- Drummer Bear vs. Andrei Arlovski

[Zangief]

Time to clear up the rumors.

Chris R. Notarile, the multi-talented creative genius behind the new "Final Fight" feature film (still in development), the King of Fan Films and the man who brought me back as Zangief to co-star with pro wrestler Brimstone in the wonderful "Kirby" last summer, had indeed cast me as Zangief in the next Street Fighter feature film, "Street Fighter: World Warrior".

At the time the script had reached completion, the story was to have taken place sometime during the late 1990s. I would have had some make-up to remove some of the lines from my face, the white removed from my beard, Zangief's body scars restored to him, The Red Cyclone decked out in his former pro wrestler gear and Chris was to shoot me at angles which suggest Zangief's former 7 foot stature, just as he had shot Brimstone and me to make us both appear bigger.

However, with so much industry interest in the project now, it has been decided to not nail down the story to any particular era and to bring Zangief's age to about that of the time just before he actually became a Street Fighter, although, in this story, he will already be part of that circuit. Therefore, the role of Zangief has been offered instead to MMA superstar Andrei Arlovski. Andrei's camp has unofficially accepted.

Chris had no idea that we have already unofficially secured Andrei for the spin-off of "Street Fighter: The Later Years", "Street Fighter Reunion". Being exactly 20 years younger than I and almost to the day, Andrei is slated to play Zangief's son in "Reunion". This makes sense as fans have pointed out repeatedly, and I've noticed myself, that Andrei resembles me when I was his age. Yes, I know that Zangief is gay but an American twist in his unofficial game canon has him with a wife, a daughter and two sons and so, as not to completely ignore this aspect of his life, we are including it as part of his past. I found it amusing that Zangief's youngest son has an apparent case of hero worship for his father as he is depicted with a Mohawk just like Papa.

As for my involvement in "World Warrior", I'm not bummed out by the news since Chris has re-cast me instead as Zangief's uncle. Now, I've only seen a picture of one of the two uncles who had raised Zangief after his parents were killed in an industrial accident ("For Love of Country" by Bethany Cox) and so I'll either be made up to look like him or I'll be playing the other one. I have, however, been asked to use the classic Zangief voice for the character so the fans will pick up on it and recognize our little deception immediately.

Today is a crucial meeting that will decide when we can announce the first day of pre-production for "Street Fighter Reunion". I've spoken to our cast and they are as excited as I am to be getting back together again on the set for the entire first season of action, adventure and comedy. I will be on pins and needles all day. We are no longer pushing the pilot and are now, instead, going for an entire first season. Should today's meeting be a success, we will be shooting by the late spring.

Hang in there with us!