Christine Baranski is the latest star in the Mamma Mia! universe to drop tantalising details that a third film is on its way.
Baranski, 72, who plays rich divorcée Tanya Chesham-Leigh in the films, says she recently met with the producer Judy Craymer who revealed her idea for a third movie in the franchise.
The star told The Hollywood Reporter things are in the works and a proposed story is in place for the third film. It would follow 2008’s original hit musical based on the songs of pop group ABBA and the 2018 sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
“I was in London with Judy Craymer at our favorite watering hole, she is planning Mamma Mia 3,” she said.
“She gave me the narrative plotline of how it’s going to happen. That’s all I can say!”
The actress insisted the producer was the type of person to makes things happen. “It’s not like, “Oh, I wish it could 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.”
Baranski also shared her wish for another fabulously sunny location.
“We’ll all be on some fabulous Greek or Croatian island having a blast,” says Baranski. “I hope.”
At the Cannes Film Festival in May, Meryl Streep told Deadline she has scheduled filming in her diary but that she didn’t know plot details.
“I don’t know how they’re going to do it,” she said, of bringing her character Donna. Spoiler: In the second film it is revealed Donna has died.
“They have an idea,” confirmed Streep. “I haven’t heard it yet but it’s in [my diary] and I’m going to hear about it pretty soon.”
Almost a year ago Seyfried and Streep also spoke on the subject of another film in the series.
Back then Seyfried, who plays Donna’s daughter Sophie, said the cast was willing but other factors were at play.
“I dare you to show me one person who doesn’t want a third Mamma Mia!”, she said. “Nobody is saying no, but nobody is saying yes either,” Seyfried went on.
“The powers that be probably can’t afford us to be honest. I hate to say it, because would I do Mamma Mia 3 for free—of course I would—but that’s not the business we’re in. What’s fair is fair, and I feel like a third film is gonna come down to something stupid like whether or not Universal wants to pay the money.”
The second film, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is both a prequel and sequel and looks back on Donna’s life and experiences as well as seeing Sophie aiming to reopen her recently deceased mother’s taverna on the island.
Though her character Donna was killed off in the movie, Streep said she would be willing to return, though the time it was taking to pull things together was an issue.
“We may have to call it Grand-Mamma Mia! by the time we make it!” she joked to Vogue.
“I told Judy if she could figure out a way to reincarnate Donna, I’m into that. Or it could be like in one of those soap operas where Donna comes back and reveals it was really her twin sister that died.”
Brosnan also agreed he was just waiting on the call.
“Judy knows where to find me,” he said.
