Director Gurinder Chadha has officially confirmed a sequel to her iconic 2002 film ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ . “I’m excited to return to these characters and continue the story, especially given how far women’s football has come,” said Chadha, who is based in London.
She confirmed that original cast members Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Archie Panjabi, Juliet Stevenson and others have been informed about the project, but emphasized that their involvement will depend on the script.
“It all comes down to the writing. I’m working hard to ensure every returning character gets meaningful development and strong scenes,” Chadha explained.
Speaking from Basel, Switzerland, ahead of the Women’s European Championship final between England and Spain, Chadha said that she had resisted creating a sequel for over two decades because she lacked the right story, until inspiration struck just a month ago.
“I’ve finally come up with something really cool. Women’s football is now more competitive and global than ever, and I’m honored to be a small part of that journey,” she said.
Though she’s considered a sequel or spin-off series for the past two years, Chadha credits the recent surge in global enthusiasm for women’s football as a major motivating factor. She’s aiming for a 2027 release to coincide with the film’s 25th anniversary and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Chadha is co-writing the new screenplay with her husband and longtime collaborator Paul Mayeda Berges, who also co-wrote the original film with her and Guljit Bindra.
In Cannes this year, Chadha connected with Emma Hayes, head coach of the US Women’s National Team, who is now providing expert insights for the script. Hayes, who felt deeply seen by the original film, said, “I was Keira Knightley’s character. That film changed the game for us.” She added that she’s proud to now be supporting Chadha behind the scenes with her football knowledge.
Over the years, the original movie has become a pop culture landmark, credited by many female athletes as a turning point for visibility and legitimacy in women’s football.
Chadha recalled that back in 2002, the film faced widespread rejection. “People thought no one would care about girls playing football,” she said. “But the movie was always about telling girls they could be anything—despite what society says—and that message still resonates.”
She promised that the sequel will stay true to the film’s spirit. “It’ll be powerful, but also full of joy. I hope we can capture that same energy and once again shine a spotlight on women and girls.”
Bend It Like Beckham followed the story of Jess (Nagra), a young British-Indian girl with dreams of becoming a footballer, and her best friend Jules (Knightley), as they navigated their passion for the sport amid family pressures and societal expectations. Jonathan Rhys Meyers played their coach and love interest.