In 2001, Hong Kong actor-director Stephen Chow released Shaolin Soccer, a loony, high-octane sports movie about a bunch of Shaolin monks forming a soccer team in order to popularize Shaolin kungfu to the masses.
The film became a huge box office hit in Asia and has since gained prominence in the West for its distinctive blend of Chow humor, comical visual effects, and endearing underdog storyline. Together with Kung Fu Hustle - another Chow film from 2004 - the films are highly regarded as modern martial arts classics.
For years, fans have been begging Chow to make a sequel to both films. Now, it seems that wish has been granted with the confirmation that Shaolin Soccer 2 is finally on the way.
Chow's Instagram reveal
News about the sequel began trickling in when, on June 22, 2023, Chow posted a video of the first draft of the script for a new film titled “Shaolin Women’s Soccer”. Set to Shaolin Soccer’s theme song, the video immediately clued you in that it is indeed the highly requested sequel to his masterpiece.
In the caption, the eclectic filmmaker announced a global talent search for the film, welcoming “pretty girls (young, beautiful, smart, curvy, ATHLETIC)” of all nationalities. In true Chow fashion – known for his penchant for casting multiple beautiful actresses in his movies – he added a cheeky remark: “Just don’t be ugly.”
The project will mark Chow’s first directing gig since 2019’s The New King of Comedy, which he co-directed with Herman Yau. Just like this film, The New King of Comedy was also Chow revisiting his past hit, the 1999 King of Comedy. It’s safe to say, the nostalgia bug dominating Hollywood has also reached Asian cinema.
Nonetheless, people have been waiting a LONG time for a Shaolin Soccer sequel. Adding a female-focused angle to the sequel is poised to be a different take from the original. As we all know, Shaolin Soccer’s cast was heavily male-dominated with the exception of Vicky Zhao’s character.
Additionally, with the growing rise of interest in female soccer around the world, there’s no better time to make the film than now.
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What is the premise of Shaolin Women’s Soccer?
As its title suggests, the film will follow a Chinese women's soccer team called the Emei Squad as they compete in the AFC Champions League. The soccer team’s name is derived from a well-known all-female sect in Chinese martial arts fiction, popularized by the works of a wuxia novelist.
Jin Yong, the women of the Emei sect develop their own combat and fighting skills tailored to the female physique. Some movements in Emei's swordplay are feminine in nature and are named after beauties in Chinese history and Chinese idioms used to describe feminine beauty.
Knowing Chow’s history, it’s not hard to imagine he will incorporate Emei’s classic moves into the soccer team’s playbook. And of course, it won’t be a Chow film without the auteur’s signature absurdist comedy.
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Is there a cast in place?
Chow has already stated that he will NOT reprise his role in the sequel, though some of the other original cast members might pop out in the film. In Chow’s place, the film will be starring Chinese A-list actors, including Zhang Xiaofei (YOLO, Hi Mom), Lay Zhang (No More Bets), and Dilraba Dilmurat (You Are My Glory, Legend of Anle).
Real-life soccer players Li Jia Yue and Nana Zhao (once dubbed the most beautiful goalkeeper in China) are also set to appear in the film, lending their field expertise to the camera.
In July, the director also set off some speculations that Mandopop superstar Jay Chou would be involved in the new movie when the two stars took a photo together, a soccer ball appearing prominently in the shot. Will he appear in the film or contribute to the OST? Only time will tell!
Is there a release date?
Filming for Shaolin Soccer 2 has recently wrapped. Shooting began in early 2025 and concluded in June, with Dilmurat reportedly the last one leaving the set. This led to speculation that the actress is, in fact, the female lead of the project. That’s right, unlike what we’re used to, details about the cast billing on this film have been kept under wraps. Until there is a trailer, we won’t know for sure.
There is currently no release date yet for Shaolin Women’s Soccer. Considering filming wrapped in mid 2025 and the undoubtedly hefty amount of visual effects needed, the movie is likely to be released late 2026 at the earliest. That would be auspicious too, as 2026 would mark the original’s 25th anniversary.
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