More than two decades after it first hit cinemas, Bend It Like Beckham is getting a sequel. Director Gurinder Chadha has officially confirmed that a follow-up to the iconic 2002 sports drama is in development.
Speaking to the BBC, the 65-year-old filmmaker said the time felt right to revisit the beloved characters, especially with women’s football now enjoying unprecedented global attention.
“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,” she explained.
The original film starred Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra, and became a cultural phenomenon, encouraging countless young women to chase their dreams on the pitch. With the England women’s team (the Lionesses) set to face Spain in the final of Euro 2025, Chadha sees a perfect backdrop for the next chapter.
While acknowledging the growing popularity of the women’s game, Gurinder also pointed out that there’s still work to be done.
“A lot has changed since the original movie, but I think people still don’t think women should play football… There are people who still don’t take it seriously, although the Lionesses are riding high.”
She hopes the sequel will once again challenge gender stereotypes and inspire a new generation.
“What I did was say you can do what you want, and you can have it all. I think that’s a really great message to put out again. There’s still stuff to say and challenge.”
Keira Knightley previously admitted she didn’t expect the film to take off the way it did.
“I remember telling people I was doing Bend It Like Beckham and them saying, ‘Oh, that’s really embarrassing… don’t worry, nobody will see it,’” she told The Tonight Show.
The film eventually grossed over $70 million worldwide and spawned a stage musical, while earning cult status among fans. Knightley, who later went on to star in Pirates of the Caribbean, says it remains the one film fans still associate with her the most.
“It’s amazing… it’s still the film people talk to me about the most. It’s so loved.”
With momentum building in women’s football and fans craving nostalgia, the sequel could not be coming at a better time.
