'Bend It Like Beckham' Is Coming Back for Round 2
“Women’s football is more competitive, more exciting and more global than ever. It is an honor for me to be a small part of it.”
First released back in 2002, Bend It Like Beckham is undeniably one of the biggest and best sports films of the 2000s. Since its release, the film has become an iconic part of British history, particularly amongst the U.K.‘s South Asian community. Some fans argue that the film was ahead of its time, suggesting that not much has changed in terms of the football landscape, while others hold it as a marker of the moment things changed.
Whichever way you look at it, the film’s cultural impact has been long-lasting. So much so that over a decade later, the film’s director, Gurinder Chadha, just confirmed that a sequel is in the works. Speaking to Deadline ahead of the Women’s Euros final, Chadha said: “I’m 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.”
In terms of why now, Chadha explained that for the longest time, there wasn’t really a story for her to bring a sequel back to, until now. “I didn’t want to do anything because I didn’t have a story. And then I came up with a great story, really super-cool story. So now I’m inspired. Literally came up with it just about a month ago. It’s my very clear wish to bring the characters back very, very soon. Women’s football is more competitive, more exciting, and more global than ever. It is an honor for me to be a small part of it.”
It’s likely that the original film’s main cast, which included Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley and Juliet Stevenson, would be returning, but according to Chadha, it all depends on the script.
In terms of timing, Chadha aims to have the sequel ready by 2027, in line with the original film’s 25th anniversary. Stay tuned for more details coming soon.
In other sporting news, here’s what went down at the first annual “Ice City Series” softball game.
