Bend It Like Beckham lands sequel 21 years after Kiera Knightley hit film
BEND It Like Beckham fans will be thrilled to know that the iconic film is getting a sequel – 21 years after it was first released.
The footy movie – which hit cinemas in 2002 – catapulted its leading stars Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra to fame.
It received critical acclaim as a result of the movie exploring ideas of race, identity, culture, gender, sexuality, and religion.
The storyline follows a young girl named Jesminder Bhamra, known as Jess, played by Parminder as she chases her passion and dream to become a professional footballer.
Bend It Like Beckham film-maker Gurinder Chadha has now revealed that she has been working on a sequel to iconic movie
It comes after the incredible success of the England Women’s Football team in the Women’s World Cup this year.
Speaking to The Mirror, Gurinder, 63, said: “For the longest time I never wanted to do a sequel.
“But I have to say, after the World Up this year, and also with the Euro’s a few years ago, my brain is ticking again and I have an idea in my head that I’m thinking through for the first time.
“I’m thinking that I could definitely do something. I never wanted to follow the girls off in America, because I felt that what I had created was so magical for that moment in time.
“It’s very hard with sequels – there are very few sequels that I think really hit the mark after the success of the first film.
“However, I do have an idea and I am starting to work on it, so I think I will definitely do something that shows how brilliant our athletes are right now.”
The film highlighted the challenges girls face despite women’s football growing in popularity since the film was released in 2002.
Gurinder was inspired to create the film after seeing a photograph of legendary England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright dressed in a union jack flag.
This made her think about what Britishness actually meant and the “evolving concept of Britishness.”
Football is important to Britain and the sport has the power to pull many different people together.
Gary Lineker, who featured in the film, reflected on it saying how “football does unify the nation, everyone gets behind England and it’s probably the only time we do all come together. That’s what originated the idea of Bend It Like Beckham.”
There are plenty of fun facts about the film besides Wright being the inspiration.
The budget may have been just £3.5 million but it grossed at nearly £60 million.
Chada didn’t know much about football and relied on co-writers to add the football bits.
It was even the first Western filmed to be screened in North Korea at a public broadcast during a film festival in the country.
Actresses Nagra and Kiera did three months worth of football training for the film and didn’t use any doubles.
The title itself is a metaphor as Chada explained back in 2003.
She said: “We can see our goal but instead of going straight there, we too have to twist and bend the rules sometimes to get what we want.
“No matter where we reside, no matter what group we claim or do not embrace as part of our ethnic lineage.”