Bend It Like Beckham Sequel: The Shocking Twist Fans Never Saw Coming – Are You Ready?

Remember that electric thrill when you first saw Bend It Like Beckham kick off back in 2002? Well, dust off those cleats because the beloved classic is making a comeback! Director Gurinder Chadha is gearing up to bring Jess Bhamra and Jules Baxton back to the pitch, reviving a story that’s been inspiring dreams and breaking down barriers for over two decades. I can’t help but wonder — can a sequel score just as big in today’s fiercely competitive and wildly global women’s soccer scene? With the surge in women’s football leagues worldwide, this sequel isn’t just a nostalgic stroll; it’s a timely celebration of how far the game has come. Whether the original stars will lace up again remains a bit of a cliffhanger, but Chadha’s passion for crafting meaningful arcs for every character has me hooked. Curious about when you’ll get to witness this legacy continue? Stick around — there’s so much more to unpack. LEARN MORE

It’s time to get back on the pitch. A sequel to Bend It Like Beckham, the 2002 sports comedy film starring Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley, is officially on the way. Director Gurinder Chadha said in a statement to Deadline, “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.”

Bend It Like Beckham followed Jess Bhamra (Nagra), an 18-year-old girl who has to hide her dreams of becoming a professional soccer player from her strict Indian parents. Jules Baxton (Knightley) notices Jess’s skills on the pitch and convinces her to join the the Hounslow Harriers, an amateur women’s soccer team.

We break down everything to know about the sequel below.

When will the sequel come out?

Chadha told Deadline that she hopes to have the film ready by 2027—just in time for the movie’s 25th anniversary.

Will the original cast return?

There’s no word yet on whether or not original cast members like Nagra, Knightley, Archie Panjabi, and Juliet Stevenson will return for the Bend It Like Beckham sequel, but Chadha is optimistic. “I’m pretty certain that everyone’s going to want to come back,” she told Deadline.

The OGS, Chadha says, “are aware that a sequel is being developed, but they obviously want to see a script before they commit.” She added, “Everything hinges on the script and if the original cast likes it. … I am working really hard to make sure every character I bring back has a decent arc and scenes.”

The sequel was inspired by the rising popularity for women’s football leagues across the world.

Chadha, who co-wrote the original film with husband Paul Mayeda Berges and Guljit Bindra, told Deadline that she started thinking about the premise for a sequel very recently. “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,” she said. “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.”

She also hopes to once again collaborate with Berges on the sequel: “I’m hoping to write it with Paul, who has come up with some very funny lines like he did last time.”