‘Bend It Like Beckham’ sequel in the works, director reveals
The Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha has announced that a follow-up to the 2002 classic, which starred Keira Knightley, is in the works and should be released in 2027.
The original 2002 movie inspired a new wave of young women to take up football. It starred Knightley and Parminder Nagra and tells the story of a Punjabi British teenage girl who goes against her parents’ wishes to play football. It is the only film distributed in every country in the world, including North Korea.
Director Gurinder Chadha spoke of the film’s success on the eve of England’s Women’s Euro final against Spain on July 27th after an impressive competition. The Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging director revealed that a sequel has been in high demand since the first film came out.
She said to The Guardian, “What I can share with you today is my very clear wish to bring the beloved characters from Bend It Like Beckham back to you and audiences globally very, very soon. Women’s football is more competitive, more exciting, and more global than ever. It is an honour for me to be a small part of it.”
She added that this has been on her mind considerably over the last two decades, stating, “After 23 years and being unable to come up with a storyline that was as good as the original, I have finally found a fantastic story for a Bend It Like Beckham follow-up.” She added that whether it’ll be a film or a television series is so far unknown.
Chadha also revealed that Emma Hayes, US women’s national team manager, is involved in the upcoming project. Chadha said, “The original film, for me, was about lifting up girls and saying you can do and be anything you want, even though society dictates what you can and can’t do.” She stressed that the message is still as relevant today.
She reflected on Bend It Like Beckham‘s legacy: “Women’s football rides so high around the world, and that’s amazing and it’s wonderful that the original film has been part of that legacy, I feel there is more that I can do and so that’s what I’m writing.”
Praising the film in light of it’s 20th anniversary in 2022, Far Out wrote, “Speaking to young girls growing up in the heart of London specifically, Bend it Like Beckham provided the early inspiration for so many women and British Asians who saw their experience of playing the game being accurately reflected on the big screen for the very first time. Presenting the adversity and sexism that female players face from onlookers, friends, and family, Chadha, as well as co-screenwriters Guljit Bindra and Paul Mayeda Berges, created a rousing call to action from female players and sporting bodies across the country.”
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