One of the most anticipated returns in comedic martial arts cinema has locked in a summer timeline. The Hong Kong director Stephen Chow announced on Monday 22 June 2026 that his latest feature film, Kung Fu Soccer, is targeting a theatrical launch this July. The news brings an end to a seven-year directorial absence since his 2019 comedy The New King of Comedy.
The announcement coincides with a major international business acquisition. The Singapore-based distributor Encore Films has secured the exclusive worldwide distribution rights for the movie outside mainland China, where Maoyan Entertainment will manage the domestic theatrical release.
The new film serves as the spiritual successor to Chow’s 2001 international blockbuster Shaolin Soccer. Originally developed over the past two years under the working title Shaolin Women’s Soccer, the project moves the premise to an all-female squad known as the underdog Emei team. The players integrate traditional martial arts movements into their matches during an improbable, high-stakes run toward a football championship.
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Chow wrote and directed the upcoming feature but will not appear on screen. The filmmaker stepped away from acting assignments following his 2008 science fiction comedy CJ7.
Instead, the production features an ensemble of prominent Chinese actors. Zhang Xiaofei, the star of the hit drama Hi, Mom, leads the cast as the team captain. She appears alongside the popular actress Dilraba Dilmurat and the recording artist and actor Lay Zhang.
To ensure a baseline of athletic realism beneath the heavy digital effects, Chow recruited professional sporting talent. The film features appearances from the retired Chinese national goalkeeper Zhao Lina and the national defender Li Jiayue. The South Korean actor Song Kang-ho, recognised internationally for his leading role in Parasite, is also scheduled to make a cameo appearance as a referee.
Read more: Uyghur Actress Dilraba Dilmurat Rumored to Star in Stephen Chow’s ‘Shaolin Women’s Soccer’
Principal photography wrapped up in June 2025 after a three-month shoot. The production team spent the subsequent year in an intensive post-production phase managing extensive visual effects sequences.
Chow teased the competitive July launch windows through a short social media video on his 64th birthday, indicating that the team is working toward a 10 July or 17 July 2026 release date.
Navigating a Crowded Box Office
The mid-summer release strategy intentionally leverages the global sporting enthusiasm surrounding this year’s FIFA World Cup. However, the choice places the martial arts comedy in direct competition with several of Hollywood’s largest theatrical priorities.
The film will arrive in global cinemas alongside Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, the live-action reimagining of Moana, and the Marvel superhero sequel Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Encore Films managing director Joyce Lee explained that the unique comedic style of the director offers something completely distinct for the summer crowd. Lee noted that while standard sports dramas focus on whether a team can win a match, a Stephen Chow project focuses on whether they can win while breaking the laws of physics. Territory sales deals are currently being finalised across individual European and Western markets.
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