Stephen Chow's 'Kung Fu Soccer' Gets Oct. 23 Western Release
Encore Films will open the Shaolin Soccer spinoff in U.S., Canadian, U.K. and Irish cinemas, with a new English dub featuring Stephen Chow, Jimmy O. Yang and MC Jin.
Encore Films announced that Kung Fu Soccer, the Shaolin Soccer spinoff written and directed by Stephen Chow, will open in cinemas across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland on October 23. The Western rollout will include the original-language version and a newly produced English dub.
The English dub features voice performances by Chow, Jimmy O. Yang and MC Jin, all of whom also appear in the ensemble cast. Encore Films said it has also completed a Cantonese dub, with that voice cast to be announced soon.
According to hollywoodreporter.com, the October openings follow the film's earlier theatrical rollout across the Asia-Pacific region. Encore Films, the Singapore-based distributor, acquired worldwide distribution rights outside mainland China from The Star Overseas in June.
Cast and earlier run
Zhang Xiaofei plays the captain of the Emei Women's Football Team, with Dilraba Dilmurat as the team's star striker and Lay Zhang as the team's kung fu mentor. Carina Lau, Takeru Satoh, Sisley Choi and Louis Cheung are among the ensemble cast members.
The film was previously announced under the title Shaolin Women's Soccer and is Chow's first feature behind the camera since 2019's The New King of Comedy. During China's June 1-Aug. 31 summer moviegoing season, it earned approximately $344.4 million (RMB 2.315 billion), becoming the season's biggest earner. Shaolin Soccer, released in 2001, became Hong Kong's highest-grossing local film and found a global cult following.
Quick answers
When does Kung Fu Soccer open in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Ireland?
Encore Films announced the film will open in those cinemas on October 23.
Will there be an English dub of Kung Fu Soccer?
Yes. The Western release includes the original-language version and a newly produced English dub featuring voice performances by Stephen Chow, Jimmy O. Yang and MC Jin.
Who stars in Kung Fu Soccer?
Zhang Xiaofei plays the captain of the Emei Women's Football Team, Dilraba Dilmurat plays the star striker and Lay Zhang plays the team's kung fu mentor. Carina Lau, Takeru Satoh, Sisley Choi, Louis Cheung, Jimmy O. Yang and MC Jin are also in the ensemble cast.