The beloved 2002 football film is making a comeback in time for its 25th anniversary and the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Photo: Handout
More than two decades after it first won hearts around the world, Bend It Like Beckham is finally getting a sequel. Director Gurinder Chadha confirmed the news to the BBC over the weekend, teasing that she’s currently developing a follow-up to the 2002 hit.
The film revolved around 18-year-old Jesminder “Jess” Bhamra, who was passionate about football, something her parents did not support, and Jules Paxton, a member of the local women’s amateur football team who befriends Jess and invites her to try out for the team.
Chadha announced the news in Basel on Saturday, where England’s women’s football team, the Lionesses, were preparing for the Euro 2025 final against world champions Spain. The timing, she said, felt just right.
“We’ve been part of changing the game for women, so it felt like this was a good time for me to go back and investigate the characters,” Chadha said. The film’s sequel is being eyed for release in 2027, coinciding with both the 25th anniversary of the original and the Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The original Bend It Like Beckham starred Parminder Nagra and a then-rising Keira Knightley as two teenage girls determined to pursue football in the face of cultural and societal expectations.
It grossed nearly US$80mil worldwide on a modest US$4.6mil budget, becoming a defining film for women in sport — especially young British-Asian girls.
Chadha revealed she had been asked “almost twice a week” since the original film came out to consider a sequel. “A lot has changed since the original movie, but I think that people still don’t think that women should play football,” she said. “There are people who still don’t take it seriously, although the Lionesses are riding high.”
While the exact format of the sequel is still undecided — it could be another feature film or perhaps a television series — Chadha is hopeful about bringing back the original cast.
She also hinted at possible cameos from members of the current England squad, saying she imagines they’ll be “queuing up” for a chance to be part of the story.
Chadha also spoke about the cultural impact of the first film. “I intended to uplift girls, girls who grew up like me, who were always being told how to dress, how to look, what to say, what not to say,” she said. “What I did was say you can do what you want, and you can have it all.”
With women’s football continuing to rise in popularity and visibility, Chadha believes there’s more to explore. “I think there’s still stuff to say, and stuff to challenge,” she added. – Dawn/Asia News Network
