“How to Have Sex” Director Swaps Cannes Spotlight for the Pitch

A24 has partnered with Channel 4 on “Major Players,” a six-episode drama from BAFTA-winning filmmaker Molly Manning Walker that will begin shooting in London this summer. The project follows two teenage friends determined to start a girls’ football team at their state school, a storyline the producers describe as a celebration of ambition and solidarity in the early 2000s.

A casting call issued this month invites women and non-binary footballers aged 17-24 from London and the South East to audition, stressing that ball skills matter more than acting experience. BAFTA-winning casting director Lucy Pardee, known for “Aftersun,” will lead open workshops, with all roles paid at industry rates.

Walker, who plays for Sunday-league side Babe City FC, said in a statement that the series “aims to put authentic women’s football on screen for the first time.” Her debut feature “How to Have Sex” won Cannes’ Un Certain Regard prize in 2023, raising expectations for her first television outing.

Principal photography is slated for community pitches and school locations across Greater London from late July, with A24 handling international sales and Channel 4 retaining UK broadcast rights. Although no cast has been announced, industry insiders expect fresh talent drawn directly from Britain’s expanding grassroots women’s game.

Channel 4’s investment arrives as interest in women’s football continues to climb; the BBC and ITV recently agreed a first-time shared deal for the 2025 Women’s European Championship, underscoring free-to-air demand. Streaming platforms are also vying for rights—Disney+ is negotiating a multiyear Women’s Champions League package beginning next season. Analysts suggest that aligning a scripted series with this surge positions A24 to reach new audiences while giving Channel 4 home-grown content that dovetails with its live-sport strategy.

Production sources indicate the writers’ room is consulting WSL coaches and former England youth internationals to ensure on-field accuracy, with filming scheduled around pre-season club commitments to secure cameo appearances from emerging players. Channel 4 and A24 have not confirmed a premiere date, but insiders expect delivery in time for the Euro 2025 finals.