Romeo Beckham to make acting debut in gay tennis film… yes, really
Romeo Beckham (Image: Getty Images)
Romeo Beckham is set to make his acting debut in Forty Love, a gay tennis romance film that centres on desire, competition and identity, with a French cinema release set for 25 November.
An image was released alongside the film’s first-look reveal by Variety and international sales push.
In Forty Love, Beckham plays a charismatic new rival to tennis superstar Sacha Gallo, portrayed by Paul Kircher. Sacha has been training alongside his dad to win a big trophy in Paris, but the arrival of Beckham’s character unsettles everything he thinks he knows about “competition, ambition and himself”.
The synopsis frames the rivalry as something more intimate: “For the first time, he faces an opponent of an entirely different nature, love,” it reads. It continues: “A force as exhilarating as it is destabilising, and far more dangerous than anything he has encountered on the court.”
While some fans may be confused by Beckham’s casting, he has a history with tennis. He decided to (briefly) ditch a potential career in football for tennis in the mid 2010s, even training with Andy Murray. However he returned to his football dreams in 2020.
Cast, director and release plans
The film is directed by fashion photographer Pierre-Ange Carlotti, in his first feature as a director. Beckham stars opposite Kircher, Guillaume Canet and Benjamin Voisin, with an appearance from Catherine Deneuve. The score is by 070 Shake and Johan Lenox.
The film is produced by Hugo Sélignac and Paco de Bary at Chi-Fou-Mi Productions (a Mediawan company) and co-produced by Studiocanal and Manna Studios.
Sélignac said of Carlotti: “There is a rare tenderness, melancholy and strength in his images, and his move into directing felt like a natural next step to me.”
Chloé Marquet, Studiocanal’s head of international sales for films and TV, said: “Carlotti’s singular visual language gives the film a real edge, while its exploration of desire, competition and identity will resonate with audiences worldwide.”
What Romeo Beckham is doing next
Beckham is the second son of David and Victoria Beckham and has grown up in the public eye as part of one of Britain’s most high-profile celebrity families.
He has worked as a model and brand ambassador in fashion, and has modelled for luxury brands including Yves Saint Laurent and Balenciaga. Aside from modelling, he has played football like dad David, playing for teams including Brentford B.
The film will see Romeo follow in mum Victoria’s footsteps, after her history-making performance in Spice World: The Movie. And no, we’re not being sarcastic. “And I’m Victoria, Malcolm!” is one of the best-delivered lines in all of film history.
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