Bend It Like Beckham sequel planned more than 20 years after first film
Knightley in 2001's Bend it Like Beckham (Rex Features)
Director Gurinder Chadha OBE has announced that a follow-up to her hit film Bend It Like Beckham is currently in development.
Chadha revealed she has finally found a "fantastic story" for the sequel after 23 years of searching, inspired by the significant growth of women's football.
The new project is targeting a 2027 release, which will coincide with the original film's 25th anniversary and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Chadha hopes to reunite the original cast, including Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley, and has enlisted US women’s national team manager Emma Hayes to collaborate on the script.
The original 2002 film, made on a budget of £3.5 million, grossed almost £60 million worldwide and is widely credited with inspiring a generation of female footballers.