Stephen Chow’s “Kung Fu Soccer” will hit cinemas in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Ireland on Oct. 23, with Singapore-based distributor Encore Films releasing the action-comedy in its original language as well as in a newly produced English-dubbed version.
Jimmy O. Yang, MC Jin and Chow all voice their own characters in English for the dub. A Cantonese-language dub has also been finished, with its voice cast yet to be revealed.
The North American and U.K. rollout comes after the film’s cinema run in Asia and Oceania. Released in mainland China on July 11, “Kung Fu Soccer” was the country’s top-grossing title of the summer season, earning some $349 million. It then opened across Southeast Asia in August, starting in Singapore and Cambodia on Aug. 6, then Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macao, Malaysia, Brunei and Thailand.
Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba Dilmurat and Lay Zhang Yixing head the cast, which also includes Carina Lau, Satoh Takeru, Sisley Choi, Angel Woo, Xue Ye, Louis Cheung, Yang and MC Jin. The story centers on the Emei Women’s Football Team, written off as underdogs, as it competes for the Supreme Invincible Cup. Led by captain Shuangshuang, striker Yulong and mentor Xu Feng, the players fuse martial arts technique with ball skills in their push for the title.
The film sees Chow return, 25 years on, to the sports-meets-kung-fu territory he staked out in 2001 with “Shaolin Soccer,” which built a global fanbase. He followed it in 2004 with “Kung Fu Hustle,” known for its intricate fight choreography and visual inventiveness. This time, a team of women takes the field.
“Following the tremendous response to ‘Kung Fu Soccer’ across Asia and Oceania, we’re excited to bring the film to cinema audiences in the U.K., Canada, U.K. and Ireland,” said Joyce Lee, managing director of Encore Films.
Lee said Chow’s films had always crossed language and cultural lines, uniting audiences through his mix of action, comedy and heart. “At Encore Films, we believe that great films and the filmmakers behind them deserve more than just a theatrical release. Their creative vision and legacy should be respected, carefully nurtured and developed for generations to come,” she said.
Founded in 2003, Encore has released titles including “Ne Zha 2,” “John Wick: Chapter 4,” “Suzume,” “The Boy and the Heron,” “The New King of Comedy” and “La La Land.” The company is also active in production, with “Young & Fabulous,” a box office success in Singapore, among its credits. Its second feature, “Fat Hope,” is in post-production.