Lionesses 'queuing up' for cameos in Bend It Like Beckham 2 - with Keira Knightley wanted for sequel as England stars Chloe Kelly & Leah Williamson spread 'great message'

WrBack in 2002, the women’s game - particularly in England - was not as prominent as it is now. Keira Knightley and Parminer Nagra, in a film that offered a nod to Manchester United and Three Lions legend Beckham, helped to break down barriers and raise awareness.

The Lionesses have picked up that baton and run with it, landing a historic European Championship crown in 2022 - with Kelly’s iconic celebration after netting an extra-time winner in the final helping to inspire a new generation of talent.

Kelly is at it again at Euro 2025, with England looking to defend their continental crown, and Gurinder Chadha believes the time is right for Bend It Like Beckham to return to the big screen - having been a surprising box office hit first time around.

She has told the BBC, with a potential release date in 2027 being lined up to coincidence with the original film’s 25th anniversary and the next Women’s World Cup: "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. 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."

Chadha is hoping that the original cast - with Knightley launching her Hollywood career on the back of a British production - will return, while Lionesses from the class of 2025 are said to be "queuing up" for cameos.

Chadha added on the message that Bend It Like Beckham delivered: "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."

Kelly, Leah Williamson, Ella Toone, Lauren James and Co have already become household names, but a new instalment of Bend It Like Beckham would help them to attract even more stars of tomorrow into the women’s game.