July 29 – Gurinder Chadha’s announcement of a Bend It Like Beckham sequel couldn’t be better timed. As England’s Lionesses lifted the Euro 2025 trophy against Spain in Basel, the director has confirmed she’s revisiting her 2002 breakthrough – a film that arguably did more for women’s football than decades of FA initiatives.
The transformation in the women’s game since Jess Bhamra first laced up her boots in the smash-hit British comedy has been seismic. When Chadha’s film grossed £60m from a £3.5m budget, women’s football was largely invisible. The FA Women’s Premier League drew minimal crowds. Sky Sports treated it like a curiosity.
Fast-forward 23 years and the Lionesses are household names commanding six-figure salaries. The Women’s Super League attracts record attendances, while brands queue up to associate themselves with players who were once considered unmarketable.
“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,” Chadha said, speaking in Basel where the magnitude of change is impossible to ignore.
“A lot has changed since the original movie, but I think that people still don’t think that women should play football,” Chadha observed. “There are people who still don’t take it seriously, although the Lionesses are riding high.”
England certainly seem to be doing something right. Their Euro 2022 final at Wembley sold out in hours. Participation rates among girls have exploded, with grassroots clubs struggling to meet demand.
Chadha’s timing for a 2027 sequel coinciding with the film’s 25th anniversary and Brazil’s World Cup just builds on momentum. Her original created cultural permission for girls to dream beyond traditional boundaries.
“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,” she reflected. “I think there’s still stuff to say, and stuff to challenge.”
The director hopes current England stars will “queue up” for cameos – a far cry from 2002 when finding recognizable women’s footballers would have been impossible. Rachel Yankey and Kelly Smith were household names only in the most football-obsessed households.
Today’s sequel would feature characters navigating professional contracts and social media fame. Jess’s struggles with family expectations remain relevant, but now she’d be arguing about WSL trials rather than Sunday league kickabouts.