Stephen Chow Brings ‘Shaolin Soccer’ Back With New Global Distribution Deal for ‘Kung Fu Soccer’

More than 20 years after Shaolin Soccer became a worldwide phenomenon, filmmaker Stephen Chow is ready to revive the beloved franchise for international audiences. The upcoming spin-off, Kung Fu Soccer, has just landed a major worldwide distribution agreement that will bring the film to theaters outside mainland China.

Singapore-based distributor Encore Films has picked up global rights to the project and plans to shop it to buyers at the upcoming Cannes Film Market. The deal represents a major milestone for the sports comedy, which combines the martial arts and soccer action that made the original 2001 film such a smash hit.

Originally titled Shaolin Women’s Soccer, the new film centers on a fictional Chinese women’s soccer team called Emei competing for international glory. Chow is back behind the camera as writer and director, though he won’t be appearing on screen this time around.

The ensemble cast features Chinese actress Zhang Xiaofei and singer-actor Lay Zhang, with actress Dilraba Dilmurat also on board. The production has enlisted real-life soccer stars Zhao Lina and Li Jiayue to lend credibility to the story.

Filming took place in Shenzhen starting in 2025 and has since wrapped. Chow recently confirmed that post-production is in its final stages, with plans to release the film in July 2026—perfectly timed to mark the 25th anniversary of the original Shaolin Soccer.

The 2001 original became one of Hong Kong’s most celebrated comedies, beloved for its slapstick humor, gravity-defying martial arts, and underdog sports narrative. The film catapulted Chow to prominence in Asian cinema before he went on to helm the smash hit Kung Fu Hustle.

Now with distribution locked in and a release date on the horizon, Kung Fu Soccer is poised to win over fresh audiences while rekindling the passion of longtime fans.