Latest news with #Gurinder
AsiaOne
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Bend It Like Beckham sequel in the works, Entertainment News
A Bend It Like Beckham sequel is in the works. The 2002 sports-drama movie — which starred Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra — is widely credited with inspiring a generation of women to play football, and director Gurinder Chadha thinks now is the perfect moment to launch a sequel. The 65-year-old filmmaker told the BBC: "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 have enjoyed significant success in recent years and are currently preparing to take on Spain in the final of Euro 2025. Gurinder observed that attitudes towards women's football have changed since the first movie, but she admits that more progress is still needed. She said: "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." Gurinder hopes the sequel will spread a positive message and "challenge" stereotypes. The director 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." Bend It Like Beckham proved to be a big moment in Keira Knightley's career, but the actress previously revealed that her friends scoffed at the idea of making the movie. During an appearance on The Tonight Show, Keira told host Jimmy Fallon: "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.'" The actress noted that "women's football was not as big" in 2002 as it is now, and so her friends assumed that the movie would flop at the box office. She said: "Women's football was not as big back then, and so the idea of the whole thing was sort of ridiculous." Despite this, the film proved its doubters wrong, earning more than US$70 million (S$89.6 million) at the box office and even inspiring a musical adaptation of the movie. And Keira — who also starred in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise — is still constantly reminded of her role in the movie by fans. 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." [[nid:720616]]
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Iconic British film starring Keira Knightley confirmed for a sequel after 23 years
BEND It Like Beckham has been confirmed for a sequel, more than two decades after it was released. Director Gurinder Chadha revealed she is developing a follow-up to the 2002 hit film , which launched the careers of Keira Knightley and Advertisement 4 Bend It Like Beckham has been confirmed for a sequel, more than two decades after it was released Credit: Kobal Collection - Shutterstock The sequel is being lined up for release in 2027 to mark the film's 25th anniversary and coincide with the FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. Gurinder told the The director said she has been asked 'almost twice a week' since the original came out to create a sequel, though no decision has been made on whether it will take the form of a film or a television series. She added: 'A lot has changed since the original movie, but I think that people still don't think that women should play football . Advertisement read more on Keira Knightley "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.'" Gurinder said she hopes to reunite the original cast and suggested members of the current The original film, made on a £3.5 million budget, became a box office success, earning nearly £60 million worldwide. It followed Jess Bhamra (Parminder), a teenager who dreams of playing football professionally, despite pressure from her traditional Sikh family to focus on education and marriage . Advertisement Most read in Celebrity She is recruited by Jules (Keira), who spots her talent and brings her into the local women's team. Chadha claimed she had not expected the film to take off, but wanted to 'uplift girls who were always being told how to dress and what to say'. Keira Knightley admits she's only watched Love Actually once - and reveals real reason why She said: 'What I did was say you can do what you want, and you can have it all,' she said. '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.' Gurinder previously told Advertisement "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. Advertisement "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 This made her think about what Britishness actually meant and the "evolving concept of Britishness." Advertisement 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 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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." 4 Director Gurinder Chadha revealed she is developing a follow-up to the 2002 hit film Credit: AFP 4 The original film earned nearly £60 million worldwide Credit: Rex Advertisement 4 It launched the career of Keira Knightley Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Iconic British film starring Keira Knightley confirmed for a sequel after 23 years
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BEND It Like Beckham has been confirmed for a sequel, more than two decades after it was released. Director Gurinder Chadha revealed she is developing a follow-up to the 2002 hit film, which launched the careers of Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Bend It Like Beckham has been confirmed for a sequel, more than two decades after it was released Credit: Kobal Collection - Shutterstock The sequel is being lined up for release in 2027 to mark the film's 25th anniversary and coincide with the FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. Gurinder told the BBC: "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 director said she has been asked 'almost twice a week' since the original came out to create a sequel, though no decision has been made on whether it will take the form of a film or a television series. She added: '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.'" Gurinder said she hopes to reunite the original cast and suggested members of the current England squad would be 'queuing up' to appear in cameo roles. The original film, made on a £3.5 million budget, became a box office success, earning nearly £60 million worldwide. It followed Jess Bhamra (Parminder), a teenager who dreams of playing football professionally, despite pressure from her traditional Sikh family to focus on education and marriage. She is recruited by Jules (Keira), who spots her talent and brings her into the local women's team. Chadha claimed she had not expected the film to take off, but wanted to 'uplift girls who were always being told how to dress and what to say'. Keira Knightley admits she's only watched Love Actually once - and reveals real reason why She said: 'What I did was say you can do what you want, and you can have it all,' she said. '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.' Gurinder previously told The Mirror she had been working on a sequel to iconic movie The filmmaker said in 2023: "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." 4 Director Gurinder Chadha revealed she is developing a follow-up to the 2002 hit film Credit: AFP 4 The original film earned nearly £60 million worldwide Credit: Rex
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Bend It Like Beckham sequel in the works two decades after original movie
Bend It Like Beckham sequel is set to hit the screens for a second time according to director Gurinder Chadha, who credits her 2002 film for changing the attitudes towards women's football 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 Knightley and 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."
News18
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Bend It Like Beckham Sequel Is In The Works, Confirms Gurinder Chadha
The 2002 sports-drama movie – which starred Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra – is widely credited with inspiring a generation of women to play soccer, and director Gurinder Chadha thinks now is the perfect moment to launch a sequel. The 65-year-old filmmaker told the BBC: '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 soccer team have enjoyed significant success in recent years, and are currently preparing to take on Spain in the final of Euro 2025. Gurinder observed that attitudes towards women's soccer have changed since the first movie, but she admits that more progress is still needed. She said: '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." Gurinder hopes the sequel will spread a positive message and 'challenge" stereotypes. The director 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." Bend It Like Beckham proved to be a big moment in Keira Knightley's career, but the actress previously revealed that her friends scoffed at the idea of making the movie. During an appearance on The Tonight Show, Keira told host Jimmy Fallon: '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.'" The actress noted that 'women's soccer was not as big" in 2002 as it is now, and so her friends assumed that the movie would flop at the box office. She said: 'Women's soccer was not as big back then, and so the idea of the whole thing was sort of ridiculous." Despite this, the film proved its doubters wrong, earning more than $70 million at the box office and even inspiring a musical adaptation of the movie. And Keira – who also starred in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise – is still constantly reminded of her role in the movie by fans.
