If there's one sequel announcement that has taken moviegoers by surprise, it's Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!. A sequel to the Broadway musical turned blockbuster, we'll presumably see the characters from the 2008 movie return to sing more favorites from ABBA's catalogue, while also getting into campy mishaps and misadventures. It's currently unclear if everyone will be returning for the sequel, although another leading actor has just been announced for a reprisal: Amanda Seyfried.
This news comes to us from the folks at Deadline, which is reporting that Amanda Seyfried will once again be playing Sophie Sheridan in Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!. This will likely be a major relief for fans of the original film (and the Broadway musical), as Sophie and Donna (Meryl Streep) make up the two leading characters. The mother/daughter duo and their relationships drive the narrative of Mamma Mia forward, so a sequel just wouldn't be the same without Sophie in the picture.
Amanda Seyfried is the third actor announced to reprise their role in Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!. She joins franchise leads Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, and Colin Firth in the already anticipated sequel. These four help cover many of the sequel's bases, but it should be interesting to see if the rest of the cast returns as well. Christine Baranski is presumably rather busy with CBS All Access' The Good Fight, and Dominic Cooper, who played Sophie's fiancee, is starring in AMC's Preacher. Additionally, Stellan Skarsgård and Harry Potter alum Julie Walters will hopefully be returning.
Regarding Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, I think the biggest question mark in the sequel revolves around ABBA's music. While the legendary Swedish pop group has a rather large catalogue of music to chose from, the most iconic songs were definitely written into the original musical. It should be interesting to see which other tunes are chose for the sequel, and how the plot will be formed around them.
I'm sincerely hoping that the folks who are developing the sequel will reach out to British playwright Catherine Johnson, who both the stage play Mamma Mia! and the movie adaptation. She clearly has a knack for writing jukebox musicals, and will be able to form a plot that actually makes sense for Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!.
Then again, the doors seem open for all types of stories with the same characters. At the end of the first film, we saw Sophie delay her wedding to Sky so the young couple could travel the world. Instead, Sam and Donna marry, with the supporting characters finding love as well. But its been quite a few years, so fans will want to see which couples lasted and which ones ones bit the dust.
CinemaBlend will be sure to update you on Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! as details become public. In the meantime, be sure to plan your next trip to the movies with our 2017 release list.
