- Latest Updates on the Sequel's Plot Details
Slap-Bang, Mamma Mia 3's Back – Here's the Lowdown on That Iconic Sequel
Yo, yo!
The "Mamma Mia!" movies have been a damn catchy blast from the past, ranking among the most stellar musical film adaptations ever. Fans have been practically frothing at the mouth for a third installment since the second one dropped in 2018, and guess what? The wait might just be about to get a little less unbearable: Lead actress Amanda Seyfried (39) spilled the beans to "E! News" that a third flick is on the cards – and she ain't shy about stating that Cher (78) will be back in the game.
"Can't do it without her"
"Cher's gonna be there," Seyfried said. "I mean, I wouldn't do it at this point without her." It seems the project's still in its infancy, though. "Mamma Mia 3" will roll out eventually, and you'll see it on the big screen before 2038. That's as much as I can assure you," added Seyfried. The ball will start rolling once a "Mamma Mia 3" scriptwriting competition takes place.
Cher herself let it slip in an interview from last November that she's all in for "Mamma Mia 3." "We're chatting about it. I don't know when they'll do it, but I know they're talking about it," Cher dished to "Entertainment Weekly." In "Mamma Mia 2," Cher lit up the screen as the zany Ruby Sheridan, mom to Donna (Meryl Streep, 75) and grandma to Sophie, who found her second wind in love.
Is Meryl Streep Back on Board?
Judy Craymer (67), the brainchild behind the musical and the films, first spoke of a potential third "Mamma Mia" flick in May 2023. "It's in the early stages… I don't want to give too much away, but I know there's a trilogy," the producer told "Deadline." Craymer also hinted at Streep's possible return, stating, "I think Meryl [Streep] should come back – and if the script is right, she would do it, because she really loved playing Donna." In the first film, Streep took center stage, but in the second, her character had kicked the bucket and only made one brief appearance.
Streep herself confirmed in May of this year to a magazine that she's been approached for the flick. She's still working out the details of her role, but she's set for a meeting with Craymer. "Of course, I want to do it. I think people love it," she asserted in the interview.
Christine Baranski (72), who played Tanya, has already got the lowdown from Craymer. "I was hangin' out with Judy Craymer in our fave pub. She's pushin' 'Mamma Mia 3'. She gave me the goss on the plot. That's all I can reveal," the actress teased in May 2024 to "The Hollywood Reporter."
Delay Due to "Wicked 2"
Amanda Seyfried also shared in another interview that the project is sitting on the back burner – but there's a reason: Universal Pictures is laser-focused on the "Wicked 2" musical first before revisiting "Mamma Mia" again. "Wicked 1" had to take a raincheck when 'Mamma Mia! 2' was cookin'," Seyfried said. The second installment of "Wicked" is slated for release in November.
The first "Mamma Mia!" film from 2008 was a certified smash, earning $611.5 million worldwide on a measly $52 million budget. Its follow-up in 2018, "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again," was just as popular. Along with Streep, Seyfried, Cher, and Baranski, these ABBA-infused musical movies star big names like Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters, Dominic Cooper, and Lily James.
- Mamma Mia
- Cher
- Amanda Seyfried
- Meryl Streep
- Sequel
- Wicked 2
- Entertainment Weekly
1. Amanda Seyfried, in an interview with E! News, confirmed that a third "Mamma Mia" film is in the works, hinting that Cher will reprise her role.
2. During a conversation with Entertainment Weekly last November, Cher also indicated her willingness to return for "Mamma Mia 3."
3. In a 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Christine Baranski revealed she had received information about the plot for "Mamma Mia 3," but she refused to disclose the details.
