Bend It Like Beckham sequel in the works two decades after original movie

When Bend It Like Beckham first hit the silver screen in the UK back in 2002, it was credited for changing the cultural landscape of women in sport. And now, it has been confirmed that the sequel is in the pipeline, according to the original director Gurinder Chadha.

The film starred Keira Knightleyand Parminder Nagra. In an interview with the BBC, Gurinder, 65, told the broadcaster: "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."

The England women's football team has enjoyed a number of successes over the years and are currently preparing to go up against Spain in the final of the Euro 2025.

Despite a significant change in the attitudes towards females in sport, Gurinder still believes that there is still a long way to go.

She continued: "A lot has changed since the original movie, but I think that people still don't think that women should play football. There are people who still don't take it seriously, although the Lionesses are riding high.

"I've left it a while, but I thought: 'look at the Euros, look at the Lionesses.'" The director went on to look at her film's role is spreading a more positive message in a bid to "challenge stereotypes."

She explained: "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. I think there's still stuff to say, and stuff to challenge."

While the film helped the career of Keira by putting her firmly on the map, it seems at the time she took on the role, the reception she received from those close, was anything but positive.

In an interview with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, she admitted: "I literally remember telling people I was doing it and it's called Bend It Like Beckham, and them going, 'Oh that's really embarrassing'. And they were all like, 'Don't worry. Nobody will see it. It's fine.'"

She added: "Women's soccer was not as big back then, and so the idea of the whole thing was sort of ridiculous."

Despite the doubt, the film went on to earn more than an estimated £52million at the box office and also inspired a musical adaptation.

Keira has secured a number of high profile role since starring in the film, including Pirates Of The Caribbean, but she is still reminded by fans of her role in the football inspired film.

She said: "It's amazing because it's still the film even today, you know, if someone comes up to talk to me about my work it's that one. It's so loved. It's amazing."

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