It was a riot of a movie. There’s singing, dancing and a trio of women re-living their carefree, youthful days as a wannabe rock stars. While it may not win over the critics, Mamma Mia! wormed its way into the hearts of ABBA fans, those who loved the Broadway musical and of course, Meryl Streep admirers.
The chemistry between Streep, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters is palpable, as is Streep’s mother-daughter bond with Amanda Seyfried as daughter, Sophia. Since it hurtled onto the movie screen nine years ago, there were already plans on a sequel, or rather, a prequel. The movie was going to focus on the love story between Streep and one of her three suitors, played by Pierce Brosnan, decades before the original takes place, but nothing materialised from that.
Now, almost a decade later, our wish has come true! The Mamma Mia! sequel, titled, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again will hit the theatres in summer 2018, with the principal cast returning to serenade us with new ABBA tracks, alongside some favourites.
This time, there’s no ready script to depend on. Writer Ol Parker, the writer for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and its sequel, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, will not only pen the story, but also wear the director’s cap. Founding ABBA members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus will serve as executive producers on the sequel.
The cast is as happy with the news as fans. Seyfried shared that they’ve been contemplating a sequel back in 2009, “I’ve been talking to some insiders and it's not something they haven't been working on. I will do it. And I know Meryl's game as well, so bring it on."
Despite being criticized for his lack of musicality, Brosnan only had good memories filming the original, “I had the time of my life doing it. Really, I cannot wax lyrically enough about my experience with Meryl Streep, Colin Firth and Julie Walters.”
Word has it that this second movie will be both a prequel and a sequel that’s set in the present. We’re not sure how it’ll work out, perhaps many flashbacks are in order? All we know is, the timing could not be more perfect for the movie to be released exactly 10 years since the original back in 2008.
It’s time to start practising those ABBA songs to sing along.
Here are some highlights from Mamma Mia! to tie you through while we wait with bated breath for the sequel:
Dancing Queen:
Mamma Mia!
Lay All Your Love on Me:
Take a Chance on Me
