Bend It Like Beckham sequel confirmed for 2027

Gurinder Chadha announces a follow-up to the iconic film as women's football gains prominence.

Bend It Like Beckham sequel is in development after 20 years

Gurinder Chadha, the director of Bend It Like Beckham, announced that a sequel to the beloved 2002 film is in the works. Speaking just before the Euro 2025 final, she shared her excitement about developing a new storyline that resonates with the current landscape of women's football. The sequel is set to release in 2027 to commemorate both the film's 25th anniversary and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. While the format is not finalized, the potential for a feature film or a series is being considered. Chadha expressed her commitment to finding the right story, stating she had received requests for a sequel nearly every week since the original's success. She hopes to reunite much of the original cast and involve current stars from women's football in the project.

The planned sequel to Bend It Like Beckham reflects not just a nostalgic return but an acknowledgment of the transformation in women's football over the past two decades. The sport's increased visibility and competitiveness provide fertile ground for fresh stories that capture the journey of female athletes today. Chadha's collaboration with Emma Hayes, the manager of the US women's national team, signals an intent to ground the narrative firmly in contemporary experiences and challenges faced by women in sports. This might challenge audiences' perspectives and create new cultural dialogues around women’s empowerment both on and off the pitch.

Highlights

The sequel promises to bring fresh insights into women's sports and storytelling.