Iconic football film Bend It Like Beckham is set to launch a sequel more than 20 years after it first film premiered.
Speaking in Basel, Switzerland, the original movie director Gurinder Chadha teased the revival to the BBC, before England's Lionesses won the Euro 2025 final against Spain in a tense penalty shoot-out.
The 2002 sports comedy grossed a staggering £60 million at the box office with a budget of only £3.5 million. The plot follows British Indian teen, Jess, played by Parminder Nagra, and her dreams of being a professional football player.
Jules Paxton, played by Academy Award winner Keira Knightley, secretly recruits Jess for a semi-pro team, unbeknownst to her disapproving parents.
The romantic comedy still stands the test of time, with Chadha telling the BBC she had been asked almost twice a week since the original film was released to come up with a sequel.
She said to 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.
"A lot has changed since the original movie, but I think that people still don't think that women should play football," she said.
Chadha teased that the storyline could come back as a movie sequel or even as a television series.
"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."
Jess, played by Parminder Nagra, idolizes footballer David Beckham in the 2002 comedy
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The director told the BBC she never expected it to be as successful as it was, and just wanted to "uplift girls" who grew up like her.
"[I want to] uplift girls, girls who grew up like me, who were always being told how to dress, how to look, what to say, what not to say," she said.
"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."
Chadha added she hoped not only to reunite the original star-studded cast, but that members of the current England Lionesses would be "queuing up" to take on cameo roles.
The Lionesses won the match on penalties after it finished 1-1 after extra time. | GettyThe movie announcement perfectly coincided with England being crowned the women's Euros 2025 champions, following a nail-biting final against Spain on Sunday night, with Chloe Kelly securing the trophy after scoring a perfect penalty.
Sarina Weigman's team soared to Euro victory for the second time, after 30 minutes of extra time and a blistering 3-1 penalty shoot-out win.
The team, which has risen to international acclaim for its stellar performance under the Dutch Manager, received praise from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who was watching the game from the stands in Basel, Switzerland.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister tweeted: "Champions! Congratulations @Lionesses - what a team. What a game. What drama. You dug deep when it mattered most and you've made the nation proud. History makers."
Former England Men's captain and Bend It Like Beckham's paragon, David Beckham, also sent his congratulations to the team.
The ex-footballer - who captained England from 2000 to 2006 - uploaded a carousel of images to his Instagram stories, sending several rounds of congratulations title holders.
The world-famous footballer praised the team, but personally congratulated players Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly, manager Sarina Wiegman, keeper Hannah Hampton, and freshman Michelle Agyemang, who at just 19 years old was awarded Young Player Of The Tournament.
English director Gurinder Chadha says she finally has an idea for the sequel
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Speaking exclusively to The Guardian, Chadha said: “After 23 years and being unable to come up with a storyline that was as good as the original, I have finally found a fantastic story for a Bend It Like Beckham follow up"
“Women’s football is more competitive, more exciting, and more global than ever. It is an honour for me to be a small part of it.”