Fisher Stevens, the American actor and filmmaker renowned for his contributions to “Succession” and collaborations with Leonardo DiCaprio, was initially surprised by the proposition to direct a Netflix documentary series centered on English soccer icon David Beckham. In a conversation with CNN Sport’s Don Riddell, the 59-year-old filmmaker admitted to questioning his suitability for the project, stating, “When they first called me, my response was … ‘why me for David Beckham?’ I didn’t know his story like you guys in the UK.”
However, appearances can be deceiving, as David Beckham himself can attest. The documentary series, aptly titled “Beckham,” chronicles the remarkable journey of the former England captain, from his humble beginnings as a schoolboy under the guidance of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson to his illustrious career with spells in Spain, the United States, Italy, and France. Following his retirement from professional football, Beckham returned to the United States as a founder and owner of the Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise Inter Miami, where he played a pivotal role in securing the historic signing of seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi.
Throughout his career, the now 48-year-old Beckham experienced remarkable highs on the soccer field, including winning a treble of trophies with Manchester United in 1999 and scoring a dramatic free kick that sent England to the 2002 World Cup. Yet, he also faced challenging moments, notably receiving a red card during the 1998 World Cup match against Argentina, which led to intense criticism and hostility from the English public.
Following the 1998 World Cup, Beckham found solace in his relationship with Spice Girl Victoria “Posh Spice” Adams, whom he married 24 years ago. The enduring “Posh and Becks” nickname serves as a reminder that Beckham and his wife were among the early pioneers of musical-sporting collaborations, predating contemporary collaborations like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.