Orville Peck Says He Has Dated Gay Guys Who Remind Him of Vega

Country star Orville Peck has made a name for himself not just as an artist, but as an advocate for gay rights. But during his feature film acting debut as Vega in the adaptation of beloved video game Street Fighter, the masked singer gets the chance to represent gay wrongs. Peck tells Them that he grew up playing the iconic 1987 fighting game with his older brothers. That’s why, when he got the call to trade in his usual tasseled black mask for a porcelain white one to play the queer-coded Vega,, it felt surreal. “I always played Vega or Chun-Li,” he laughs. “That’s the rules as a gay boy, I think.”Directed by Kitau Sakurai, Peck joins an ensemble cast of talented actors, including Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, Callina Liang, 50 Cent, and Jason Momoa. While the plot of Street Fighter focuses on natural-born fighter Ryu and his brother Ken Masters as they join other competitors in the World Warrior tournament, the pivotal role that Vega plays as the martial arts film’s gay villain is undeniable. We’re introduced to Peck’s golden-locked Vega the night before the big tournament, when the all-AmericanGuile calls him a “freak” who should become “a family man.” (For those of us familiar with defense secretary Pete Hegseth and his transphobic, “high-T” agenda, Guile’s vibe might not feel entirely unfamiliar.) In a moment of brilliant retaliation, Vega skillfully eviscerates Guile, with queer flair. Unfortunately, as we later learn in the film, Vega’s principles may not be as honorable as they seem… Filled with kicks, jumps, and moments of homoerotic tension, Peck portrays Vega as self-absorbed, and beautifully evil.Ahead of the film’s theatrical release, Peck sat down with Them to talk about learning to fight, becoming besties with Chun-Li, and which fictional wrongdoer inspired his performance in Street Fighter. Prior to landing the role, did Street Fighter mean anything to you?I played it all the time with my brothers. I was a big con