After 10 Years We Are Finally Getting A Mamma Mia! Sequel On 2018

“Mamma Mia” is one of the smartest and best displays of music. Creating an entire play narrated by the songs of the Swedish pop group ABBA. Being a success on first Broadway and then in Hollywood. But the clever story is now getting a sequel called “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!,” something that might have caught off guard many fans. Not only because there have been 10 years since the first cinematic adaptation. Also, because what else can be told of the story?

Well, it seems that we will have to wait until 2018 to know it. Since Universal just dropped the release date announcement for a movie that, for July 20th of 2018 (two days and 10 years apparat from the first installment). According to Universal, the sequel will count with the original cast. But since we don’t have a plot yet we don’t know how long or who will appear. Despite it all, for many, the question is: was another “Mamma Mia movie really needed?

What’s new

Besides the return of the original cast, that will surely count at least with Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, and Pierce Brosnan. There will obviously be some new additions, as there will be a new story. According to Screen Rant, they have speculated about the what will happen in the new storyline. They’ve suggested that we may see Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) back on the Greek island of Kalokairi to finally marry his boyfriend Sky(Dominic Cooper). Also, adding that she’ll possibly end up getting married but to a different man, to keep the messy “tradition” footsteps of Donna alive(?).

Another theory is that Donna (Merryl Streep) and Sam (Brosnan) could be renewing their vows. Exploring their relationship deeply, that was briefly described in the first film. As in the original movie, the ex-lovers came clean with each other about their feelings. Getting married towards the end. Linking this with other possible plotlines, that is that the movie will be exploring Donna and Sam’s love but when they firstly met. Explaining how they fell in love, going deeper into their relationship and answering a key question: Sophie’s biological father. A big question left unsolved, as Donna told her that any of the three men could be her father. Hopefully, the sequel will get to finally reveal who it is.

What to expect

We surely expect to see Christine Baranski return as well. Since her “mature MILF character” and performance of “Does Your Mother Know?” where without a doubt one of the film’s highlights. Along with Stellan Skarsgård and Julie Walters’s sassy and full of attitude romance and roles. Besides the new characters and theories, according to Universal, the movie will be filled with ABBA songs that were not in the first film. We hope, and probably the most key aspect of all, that they can keep the fact that makes it so awesome. Where the story is almost completely told and formed by the songs of the Swedish group, leaving dialogues in the background as almost a connector.

Why do we need to “Go Again!”?

If you’re wondering why this is happening, there is a simple answer that you’ve probably thought of, money. First taking into consideration that in recent years many sequels, especially “mom-favorites” or “chick-flicks” have endorsed some absurd amount of money. With “Bridget Jones’s Baby” getting a $211 million worldwide last year. While “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2” got $89 million revenue. Making very logical to get a “Mamma Mia” sequel that will surely have a huge box office. Being this an easy way for Littlestar, Playtone, and Universal/Comcast Corp to get some cash from the popular film. But sequels aren’t always good, especially in something as atypical as a Broadway favorite being turned into movies. More if they don’t have an original play-sequel. So let’s hope things go a little better than what happened with “Grease 2”.

Also, another great detail to consider is that “Mamma Mia!” was a huge movie during 2008. Getting an impressive $28 million debut weekend. Something to really consider, not only due to the lighthearted and popular character of the movie. But also because it opened the same day as the record-breaking $157m debut weekend of “The Dark Knight”. While “The Dark Knight” made history and turned into the pop culture phenomenon with an eventual $534 million domestic and a $1.003 billion worldwide. The musical cinematic based on ABBA’s music landed a $144 millions in the U.S. and achieved to collect $609 million worldwide.

Mamma Mia! was bigger than Iron Man

These are huge numbers. More if once again we take into consideration that it means the movie was bigger than “Iron Man” ($585 million) and “Quantum of Solace” ($586m). Also, it was the fifth-biggest movie of 2008, an extremely hard year. Coming behind “The Dark Knight,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” “Kung Fu Panda,” and “Hancock”. It was as well the biggest live-action musical ever until this year’s “Beauty and the Beast“ got past the $1 billion mark. Despite that, it still stands as the biggest live-action movie ever directed by a woman.

Sadly, Phyllida Lloyd will not be returning to direct the film. As it will be written and directed by Ol Parker, who penned “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”. Still, the film will bring back original producers. Like Littlestar’s Judy Craymer and Playtone’s Gary Goetzman. While original ABBA members, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus are aboard again to provide music and lyrics and serve as executive producers.