Hong Kong filmmaker Stephen Chow’s long-awaited return to the football-meets-martial-arts genre is finally on the way, with Kung Fu Soccer set for release in mainland China on July 11 and in Singapore on August 6.
The film’s rollout was confirmed on July 6 alongside a 21-second teaser trailer and the start of ticket sales.
The new film is being described as a spiritual successor to Chow’s 2001 hit Shaolin Soccer, which became a major box-office and cult success around the world.
This time, the story centres on the Emei Women’s Football Team as they chase an unlikely championship dream in the Supreme Invincible Cup.
The film was originally developed over the past two years under the working title Shaolin Women’s Soccer, before evolving into the current Kung Fu Soccer project.
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Its story shifts the premise to an all-female underdog squad, the Emei team, whose players blend traditional martial arts movements into their matches as they chase an improbable championship run.
The cast is led by Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba Dilmurat and Lay Zhang, with special appearances by Carina Lau and Takeru Satoh. The film also features guest appearances from Jimmy O. Yang, MC Jin, Louis Cheung and Zhao Lina, adding extra international appeal to Chow’s latest comedy.
Encore Films has secured worldwide distribution rights outside mainland China, while Maoyan Entertainment is handling the China release.
Chow’s return comes seven years after The New King of Comedy and more than two decades after Shaolin Soccer helped establish him as one of Hong Kong cinema’s most recognisable comedy directors.
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As interest builds ahead of the release, Kung Fu Soccer is shaping up to be one of Stephen Chow’s most anticipated films in years, especially for fans of sports comedy, Chinese cinema and nostalgic martial-arts storytelling.
