A sequel to the beloved film Bend It Like Beckham is officially in development, according to director Gurinder Chadha. The original sports-drama, released in 2002, starred Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra, and has been credited with inspiring a generation of women to take up soccer. With the rising prominence of women’s soccer, Chadha believes this is the ideal time to revisit the story and its characters.
In an interview with the BBC, Chadha expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, “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.” The England women’s national team, known as the Lionesses, have recently enjoyed substantial success, including their preparation for the final of Euro 2025 against Spain. This context highlights the changing landscape of women’s sports since the original film’s debut.
Chadha acknowledged that while attitudes towards women’s soccer have improved, challenges remain. “A lot has changed since the original movie, but I think that people still don’t think that women should play football,” she noted. Despite the Lionesses’ accomplishments, she pointed out that not everyone takes the sport seriously, emphasizing the need for continued advocacy and representation.
The director aims for the sequel to convey a positive message and to “challenge” existing stereotypes. Chadha elaborated, “What I did was say you can do what you want, and you can have it all, and I think that’s a really great message to put out again. I think there’s still stuff to say, and stuff to challenge.”
The original film launched Keira Knightley’s career, although she faced skepticism from peers at the time. During a guest appearance on The Tonight Show, Knightley shared her experience, recalling how friends dismissed the film’s potential, saying, “I literally remember telling people I was doing it and it’s called Bend It Like Beckham, and them going, ‘Oh that’s really embarrassing.’”
At the time, women’s soccer was not as widely recognized, leading many to believe the movie would fail. Knightley reflected, “Women’s soccer was not as big back then, and so the idea of the whole thing was sort of ridiculous.” Contrary to their expectations, the film exceeded all projections, grossing over $70 million globally and even inspiring a musical adaptation.
Today, Knightley continues to be associated with the film. She noted, “It’s amazing because it’s still the film even today, you know, if someone comes up to talk to me about my work it’s that one. It’s so loved. It’s amazing.”
As the world of women’s soccer evolves, the anticipated sequel to Bend It Like Beckham promises to resonate with both longtime fans of the original and a new generation, reinforcing the message that women can excel in sports and beyond.
