Hit film Shaolin Soccer has struck the jackpot by becoming one of the few Hong Kong movies to go on general release in the United States.
But US production company Miramax, which has bought the copyright, wants to rename it Kung Fu Soccer to make it more appealing to US audiences.
The film, directed by and starring comedian Stephen Chiau Sing-chi, is about a Shaolin monk who uses his soccer skills to spread the good word by leading a team of misfits to the top echelons of Chinese football. It will open in New York and Los Angeles early next month before being screened in about 1,000 cinemas across the country.
Shaolin Soccer's foray into America comes after Miramax bought the film's copyright from local distributor Universe International at the Cannes Film Festival last year.
Chiau's spokesman, Tin Kai-man, who also stars in the film, said Miramax was keen to use the title Kung Fu Soccer.
'They think the phrase kung fu is more appealing to the US audience and speaks for the genre of the film. But we don't think we should rename it as we prefer to stick to the original title,' he said.