Encore Films Secures Global Distribution for Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Soccer
Encore Films announced that it has acquired worldwide distribution rights for Kung Fu Soccer, the upcoming spin‑off of Stephen Chow’s beloved 2001 hit Shaolin Soccer. The agreement covers all territories outside mainland China, where Maoyan Entertainment will handle the domestic rollout.
The film, which Chow both directs and produces, imagines an all‑women squad that fuses martial‑arts techniques with the beautiful game. Zhang Xiaofei leads the ensemble as the team’s captain, with Dilraba Dilmurat and Lay Zhang among the supporting players. The cast also includes spokesperson Joyce Lee, who helped broker the deal with The Star Overseas.
Kung Fu Soccer is slated for a 2026 release, marking the 25th anniversary of the original Shaolin Soccer. The project is currently in post‑production, with extensive visual‑effects work underway to bring the hybrid sport to life on screen.
A Strategic Release Timing
Encore Films plans to launch the movie during a period of heightened global interest in soccer, capitalising on the momentum of this year’s FIFA World Cup. By handling theatrical and ancillary rights in markets such as Singapore and other overseas regions, the company aims to maximise exposure for a film that blends comedy, sport and martial‑arts spectacle.
Stephen Chow, who stepped back from acting after 2008’s CJ7, remains a towering figure in Chinese‑language cinema, known for titles like Shaolin Soccer, The Mermaid, CJ7 and Kung Fu Hustle. His involvement as director and producer adds considerable anticipation to the new project.
The collaboration between Encore Films, The Star Overseas and Maoyan Entertainment underscores a growing trend of cross‑border partnerships that seek to bring culturally specific stories to a worldwide audience.