Stephen Chow's highly anticipated film, 'Kung Fu Soccer,' is set to make its theatrical debut in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Ireland on October 23. This international rollout by Singapore-based distributor Encore Films follows the movie's stellar performance in China, where it emerged as the biggest earner of the summer movie season.
The film, a comedic blend of martial arts action and underdog sports drama, arrives 25 years after Chow's original 'Shaolin Soccer' captured global attention. That 2001 hit became Hong Kong's highest-grossing local film and garnered a significant cult following worldwide, a success Chow further cemented with his 2004 blockbuster, 'Kung Fu Hustle.'
'Kung Fu Soccer' reworks the popular premise of its predecessor, focusing on an all-female squad of martial arts practitioners who apply their unique skills to the football pitch. The story centers on the Emei Women’s Football Team, led by captain Zhang Xiaofei ('Hi, Mom'), as they strive to prove themselves in the Supreme Invincible Cup. The team's star striker is portrayed by Dilraba Dilmurat, with Lay Zhang serving as their kung fu mentor, guiding them to combine their martial arts prowess with soccer techniques to overcome formidable challenges both on and off the field. The ensemble cast also features Hong Kong icon Carina Lau, Japanese star Takeru Satoh, Sisley Choi, Louis Cheung, Jimmy O. Yang, and MC Jin.
In China, 'Kung Fu Soccer' capitalized on the summer's World Cup enthusiasm, raking in approximately $344.4 million (RMB 2.315 billion) between June 1 and August 31. This success significantly boosted the country's overall summer theatrical revenue, contributing to a 4.45 percent increase from the previous year, as reported by figures from the China Film Administration and Maoyan Research Institute.
For Stephen Chow, 'Kung Fu Soccer' marks his first feature film as director since 2019's 'The New King of Comedy.' He also penned the screenplay for this latest endeavor, which was previously known under the working title 'Shaolin Women’s Soccer.' Encore Films secured the worldwide distribution rights outside mainland China from Chow's production company, The Star Overseas, back in June, having already rolled out the film across the Asia-Pacific region.
The upcoming Western release will offer both the original language version and a newly produced English dub, featuring voice performances from Chow himself, alongside Jimmy O. Yang and MC Jin. A Cantonese-dubbed version is also in the works. Joyce Lee, managing director of Encore Films, expressed enthusiasm for the broader reach, stating, "Stephen Chow’s films have always transcended language and cultural boundaries, bringing audiences together through his unique blend of action, comedy and heart."
She added, "Through a special English-dubbed version that makes the film more accessible to wider audiences, alongside a newly completed Cantonese-dubbed version whose voice cast will be announced soon, we hope to introduce Stephen Chow’s signature style of comedy to new audiences while reconnecting with longtime fans." This strategic approach aims to ensure that Chow's distinctive comedic vision resonates with both his established fanbase and a new generation of viewers.