Have the time of your dreams! Mamma Mia! left a lasting impression in 2008 as the cast transported viewers to Greece while singing ABBA’s greatest hits — and one film just wasn’t enough.
Meryl Streep Amanda SeyfriedThe original movie’s mother-daughter duo Donna (and Sophie) captivated audiences. In hopes of getting answers about her father’s identity, Sophie contacts three of her mom’s former flames — Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Bill (Stellan SkarsgårdHarry (Colin Firth) — before her wedding.
While fans never officially learn who Sophie’s dad is, the men all agree to be stay in her life as father figures. While the love story between Sam & Donna is captivating, viewers are compelled to see a European fairy tale.
A decade after the musical’s success, producer Judy CraymerFans got a second film with more ABBA music and mischief on Greek isles. 2018’s Mamma Mia! Here We Go AgainIntroduced viewers to Donna, a young actress. Lily James, and her three whirlwind relationships.
Donna’s origin story also brought CherRuby Sheridan, Donna’s mother, is also in the mix. Along with a few newbies, the original cast all appeared in the sequel, including Donna’s grown-up BFFs Rosie (played by Julie WaltersTanya (Christine Baranski), who played a big part in both stories.
Craymer reflected in August 2021 on the two hits movies that were inspired by the Mamma Mia!Broadway premiere of musical in 1999.
“Meryl was the first choice [for Donna]. I’d seen her in a play … and I thought, ‘Oh, my God, she’s good,’” the English filmmaker recalled during an interview with Daily Mail+. “She jumped at it before she read the script because she had seen the play in New York. I had called her agent to ask him about the protocol, but he didn’t really know. He called Meryl, thinking she’d say no. She screamed on the phone, ‘I am Mamma Mia!’ She was so supportive.”
The producer explained that — despite rave reviews for the first film — “nothing ever moves that fast” in Hollywood, so the sequel took 10 years to get on the big screen.
“It just seemed natural and the right time. Everyone wanted to come together for it,” Craymer said of the second movie, noting that Streep rarely — if ever — does sequels, but she agreed to come back. “I think she missed us. It was just a big party, really.”
Craymer also teased the possibility of a third blockbuster — and many of the films’ stars have hinted at wanting to go back to Greece one last time.
“I always think wouldn’t it be fun just to get back together on that Greek island and maybe film all of us having dinner and telling the stories and singing all ABBA songs?” Baranski told Entertainment WeeklyIn January 2022, when you are asked about reuniting to a possible reunion Mamma Mia! 3. “And then just have it filmed as a great night out.”
Scroll down to find out more about the cast and creators. Mamma Mia!It could be a trilogy, as franchises have suggested.
