The “King of Hong Kong Comedy” Stephen Chow’s classic movie “Shaolin Soccer” is set to have a female version titled “Female Soccer” (tentative title). Recently, there has been widespread speculation on Chinese social media platform Weibo that Dilraba Dilmurat, also known as one of the “Four Beauties of Xinjiang,” will star in the film, with the potential to become the “most beautiful female star.” While some suggest that she may only have a cameo role, others claim, “She is the lead, and the rest of the casting is for supporting roles.”
“Shaolin Soccer,” directed and starring Stephen Chow in 2001, remains one of the classic comedy films in Hong Kong. The film grossed 60 million Hong Kong dollars at the box office at the time and still holds the 10th spot in the Hong Kong Chinese film box office rankings. After not directing new films for many years, Stephen Chow announced on his 61st birthday in 2023 that he would be filming the female version of “Shaolin Soccer,” “Female Soccer,” and listed five casting requirements to recruit actors globally, sparking a strong response with around 30,000 applicants. Talents from various fields, including singers, actors, and even athletes, participated in the auditions, with many renowned actors volunteering themselves for roles.
Recently, news emerged that “Female Soccer” is about to commence filming. Apart from known cast members such as Zhang Xiaofei, Zhang Tianyi, and Song Kang-ho, a group of talented actors, on March 2nd, there were rumors circulating on Weibo that Dilraba Dilmurat would appear in the film. One account suggests that Dilraba Dilmurat may have a cameo role with the specific character yet to be known, while another rumor claims, “She is the lead, and the others cast are supporting roles.” It was also revealed that Dilraba Dilmurat has already arrived in Shenzhen, preparing to start filming. With her captivating features and striking appearance, she is poised to become the “most beautiful female star.”
Currently, neither Stephen Chow, the film production team, nor Dilraba Dilmurat have responded to these speculations, and the authenticity of the final cast remains to be seen.
Dilraba Dilmurat, who is 32 years old this year, has been in the industry for over a decade, starring in nearly 30 films and television dramas, as well as multiple variety shows. Her notable works include “Eternal Love” and “Three Lives Three Worlds: The Pillow Book.” Despite not having any leading roles broadcasted last year, she seemed to have encountered a bottleneck in her career, with some suggesting that her film and television resources are gradually being taken by other rising stars like Zhao Lusi and Yu Shuxin. Nonetheless, she still holds the fifth position in the “2024 Mainland China Entertainment Celebrities Commercial Value” list.
Stephen Chow’s comedy films are a shared memory for a generation, and his long absence from new works, with his last directorial movie being “The New King of Comedy” released in 2019, has left fans eagerly anticipating his direction in “Female Soccer” and hoping for new breakthroughs. Particularly, they hope that he will not compromise on the ideological content of the storyline to secure the Dragon Seal (permit for release in mainland China).