LayarHijau – Stephen Chow has revealed why he chose Dilraba Dilmurat to star in Kung Fu Soccer (《功夫女足》), saying he had already noticed the actress’s comedic talent about a decade ago.
In a recent interview with Hong Kong media, Chow recalled watching one of Dilraba’s dramas around 10 years ago. Her performance left a strong impression on him, particularly the way she approached comedy.
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“She was even more over-the-top than I was. I remember thinking, ‘How can she do that?’” Chow said.
The filmmaker also praised Dilraba for being willing to let go of her polished image as a star when a role calls for it. In his view, she is not afraid to do whatever is necessary for a scene, even if it means looking silly or going completely over the top.
Chow said that attitude was just as apparent on the set of Kung Fu Soccer.
“She has no hang-ups about being an idol on set. She’s willing to do anything, and she’s very professional and very good,” he said.
The comment is particularly notable given Dilraba’s status as one of China’s most popular actresses, who is often associated with glamorous roles and a polished on-screen image. Kung Fu Soccer gives her the chance to lean much further into comedy and show a more uninhibited side of her performance.
Kung Fu Soccer marks Chow’s return to the football-and-martial-arts comedy territory he made famous with Shaolin Soccer (《少林足球》) 25 years ago. The new film stars Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba Dilmurat and Lay Zhang (Zhang Yixing), and follows the Emei women’s football team as they combine martial arts with the sport in their bid to win a championship.
Released in China on July 11, Kung Fu Soccer quickly became one of the biggest films of the 2026 summer movie season. It led the summer box office during the early weeks of the season before facing stronger competition from other major releases.
The film also helped drive a major jump in China’s July box office. According to the figures cited by Sohu Entertainment, July box office reached 5.019 billion yuan, up substantially from 4.067 billion yuan in July last year.
The overall summer movie season, which runs from June 1 to August 31, has also been performing strongly. By mid-August, the season had already surpassed 9 billion yuan in box-office revenue, with Kung Fu Soccer, All Wishes Come True! (《八仙！》) and Spider-Man: Brand New Day among the leading titles.
As the summer season enters its final stretch, Once Upon a Time in the Middle East (《欢迎来龙餐馆》) is projected to challenge for the top spot. Even so, Kung Fu Soccer remains one of the defining hits of the season and a major part of Stephen Chow’s long-awaited return to the big screen.
For Chow, the film also provided an opportunity to showcase a side of Dilraba that he says he had already spotted years before they worked together. His comments make clear that her popularity was not the only reason she landed the role—the comedic instincts he noticed a decade ago were a major part of the appeal.
