Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Soccer sets Oct. 23 release in U.S., Canada, U.K. and Ireland
Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Soccer will open in cinemas in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland on Oct. 23.
Singapore-based distributor Encore Films announced the date, The Hollywood Reporter reported. The rollout covers four markets on the same day. It brings the film west after a large summer run in China.
The film is a spinoff of Chow's Shaolin Soccer. It is a Hong Kong-China co-production, meaning companies from both places backed it, built around an all-female squad of underdogs. It was previously announced under the title Shaolin Women's Soccer.
Chow wrote and directed the film. It is his first feature behind the camera since 2019's The New King of Comedy. That gap makes this a return for a familiar favourite.
Zhang Xiaofei leads the cast as captain of the Emei Women's Football Team. Dilraba Dilmurat plays the star striker. Lay Zhang plays the kung fu mentor who trains them.
Audiences will have a choice of versions. The October rollout will include the original-language version and a newly produced English dub. The English dub features voice performances by Chow himself, Jimmy O. Yang and MC Jin. Encore has also completed a Cantonese dub.
The film arrives with strong numbers behind it. It earned approximately $344.4 million (RMB 2.315 billion) in China during the June 1 to Aug. 31 summer moviegoing season, The Hollywood Reporter reported. It finished that period as the highest-grossing title of the summer in China. Short holds and long legs decide a season, and this one stayed out front.
Encore acquired worldwide distribution rights outside mainland China, the right to release the film everywhere except mainland China, from Chow's banner The Star Overseas in June. The film also began streaming on iQIYI on Oct. 3, according to iQIYI.
For fans, this means quick access in two places. Cinemas in four markets get it on Oct. 23, with dubbed and original-language screenings side by side.
