Overview
- Encore Films announced on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 that it acquired worldwide theatrical and related rights to Kung Fu Soccer outside mainland China.
- Maoyan Entertainment will handle distribution inside mainland China, and Encore said it is still lining up additional territorial partners for other markets.
- The film is written and directed by Stephen Chow, his first feature as director since 2019, and marks a return to the martial‑arts‑meets‑football style of Shaolin Soccer.
- Kung Fu Soccer was shot in 2025 and is now in VFX‑heavy post‑production; Chow posted a short social video suggesting informal target dates of July 10 or July 17 for release but no official date has been set.
- The ensemble cast is led by Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba Dilmurat and Lay Zhang and the film is pitched as a multi‑language release to broaden its international appeal during the 25th‑anniversary push for Shaolin Soccer and the 2026 World Cup period.