There's been talk of Mamma Mia 3! Six years have passed since we last visited the idyllic Greek island for the second ABBA-filled instalment of Mamma Mia! and now it looks like we will have another film entering the franchise, although, before you get too excited, we may have to wait a while...
Is there going to be a Mamma Mia 3?
While there’s been a lot of interest in Mamma Mia 3, an official green light hasn't been given yet. However, several key players have expressed enthusiasm about the idea.
Producer Judy Craymer, who was behind the first two musical films, hinted in interviews that she envisions Mamma Mia! as a trilogy and has been considering ideas for a third instalment.
Additionally, cast members like Amanda Seyfried (Sophie in the films) and Christine Baranski (who plays Tanya) have mentioned they'd love to return for another round of ABBA hits and island vibes.
Speaking to Radio Times, Amanda said, "There's lots of talk," but she jokingly added, "I just don't think Universal can afford us."
Colin Firth also wants Mamma Mia 3 to happen, and has said: "We can always dream."
The actor, who plays Harry Bright in the films added, "The likelihood of that I can't comment on, you know, I suppose there are more songs, or why not use them all again? I'm sure that you won't find anybody that wouldn't be keen to show up for it."
Julie Walters recently retired from acting, following a battle with stage three bowel cancer, which she was diagnosed with in 2018. Although she got the all-clear, the 70-year-old actress believes it was the stress of her acting career which caused the condition, so decided to take a break.
Speaking to us at Yours Magazine, she said: “I’m not saying I’ll never act again but since the cancer, I feel like a different person to the person who was working the whole time and always rushing about. It’s changed me because it’s changed the way I live my life. I’m the same but different.”, though she also revealed there was one role she'd be willing to return to.
“I don’t want to work again. Unless it’s another Mamma Mia.”
In a more recent update in August 2024, Christine Baranski revealed that she had met up with Craymer and that their discussion included Mamma Mia 3, which sounded pretty hopeful!
"I was in London with Judy Craymer at our favourite watering hole, she is planning Mamma Mia 3. She gave me the narrative plotline of how it's going to happen. That's all I can say!"
"But it's not like, 'Oh, I wish it could happen!' Judy Craymer makes things happen. She made number two happen, and it was a phenomenal hit. I wouldn't put it past Judy Craymer to get everybody back together.", she added.
When is Mamma Mia 3 coming out?
Now, this is all hypothetical, but if it were to go ahead, the previous Mamma Mia films were released in July, so it makes sense that a third would be too. Production has been quick on both films too, with only a year between filming and release, so if it were given the green light now, we could see the movie as early as July 2026.
Mamma Mia 3 cast
If the time comes for a Mamma Mia 3, the casting is likely to be similar to that of the previous instalments. We're talking Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), Sky (Dominic Cooper), Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Harry (Colin Firth), Bill (Stellan Skarsgård), Tanya (Christine Baranski), Rosie (Julie Walters).
Could we see Meryl Streep make a return to the Greek island for some singing and dancing? It may seem unlikely since it was announced that Donna had passed in the previous film, but a flashback at least of Donna and The Dynamos, would be epic.
We could also see Cher make another fleeting appearance as Sophie's grandmother, Ruby with her lover Fernando Cienfuegos (Andy Garcia) or some other exciting cameos.
Mamma Mia 3 songs
Of course, the film would have to be filled with ABBAs greatest hits - that's a given, but could we see a few new ones creep in there, perhaps specially for the film?
Whilst everything is just rumoured at the moment, we'll have to wait (and hope) for the film to get the green light soon. For now, we'll have to stick to re-watching and singing along to the first instalments!
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who is passionate about TV, film and theatre. She enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, playing board games and spending time with her pet dogs, tortoise and chickens.