Key Takeaways
- Romeo Beckham makes his acting debut opposite Paul Kircher in Forty Love, a queer sports romance about rival tennis players whose attraction threatens their careers.
- Set on the French Riviera and directed by Pierre-Ange Carlotti, the trailer mixes charged exchanges, bloody injuries, clay-court matches, and an appearance from Catherine Deneuve.
- The role marks Beckham’s latest career pivot after leaving professional soccer for modeling, while the film follows Challengers as it turns tennis rivalry and ambition into romantic drama.
Romeo Beckham is trading the soccer field for the tennis court—and making his acting debut in a romance that has more going on than a championship rivalry. According to The New York Times, StudioCanal has released the first trailer for Forty Love, a queer sports drama starring David and Victoria Beckham’s 24-year-old son alongside French actor Paul Kircher.
Directed by fashion photographer Pierre-Ange Carlotti, the film follows Sacha Gallo (Kircher), a rising tennis superstar whose carefully managed career gets complicated when he encounters a new rival played by Beckham. Set against the French Riviera, the story explores the relationship between two competitors whose attraction threatens to disrupt their professional ambitions.
The trailer doesn't waste time establishing the tension. In one scene, Beckham's character takes a shot at Gallo's personality, telling him, "Everyone does say you're boring, and I think they're right."
Another exchange makes their relationship considerably less ambiguous.
"It's not my fault if you're f*cking in love with me," Beckham's character declares.
The preview also features French cinema legend Catherine Deneuve, along with scenes of bloody injuries, intense training sessions, and matches played on European clay courts.
Tennis fans might recognize another line Beckham delivered at a press conference: "I don't want to sound like I want to be his boyfriend."
It's a variation on something Rafael Nadal famously said about Roger Federer during the 2017 U.S. Open, when the Spanish champion joked, "I don't want to look like I am gonna be his boyfriend."
The film also borrows from professional tennis culture through its costumes, sponsorships, and character details. Gallo shares a nickname and necklace-biting habit with Alexander Zverev, while his headband and hairstyle resemble Nadal's.
For Romeo Beckham, Forty Love marks another career change after years of pursuing professional soccer. He previously played for Inter Miami II and Brentford B before leaving competitive soccer to focus on modeling. His fashion work has included campaigns and runway appearances, but the upcoming film marks his first credited acting role.
The project also arrives as sports romances continue finding audiences beyond traditional sports fans. Luca Guadagnino's 2024 film Challengers, starring Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor, similarly explored attraction, ambition, and rivalry through professional tennis.
Beckham's move into acting comes during a particularly public period for his family.
His older brother, Brooklyn Beckham, made headlines earlier this year after accusing his parents, David and Victoria, of trying to undermine his marriage to Nicola Peltz Beckham.
