Director Gurinder Chadha has confirmed that a sequel to the iconic 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham is officially in development, with a planned release in 2027 to coincide with the film's 25th anniversary and the FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.
Chadha announced the news on Monday's Good Morning Britain, citing the England women's football team's recent Euro 2022 victory as a key inspiration. 'I waited a long time because I didn't think it was right to do anything after the film because so many people love it,' she said. 'But after 23 years, I thought it's different now. It's not so much the film but the movement – this is what we created, a movement much bigger than the film.'
The original film starred Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley as young footballers navigating cultural and family expectations. Chadha confirmed that original cast members are aware of the sequel but have not yet committed, pending script approval. 'I'm pretty certain that everyone's going to want to come back,' she added. 'Everything hinges on the script and if the original cast likes it.'
Chadha told Deadline she is 'excited to revisit the original characters and revive the enduring story and build on the legacy we helped to create for the women's game.' She emphasised the importance of giving each returning character a 'decent arc and scenes.'
The sequel will mark the 25th anniversary of the original film, which Chadha described as having 'captured magic in a bottle' and inspired champions. She expressed hope that the new film would 'bring back that same joy and feel good about putting women and girls on the map like we did 23 years ago.'
