'Mamma Mia' creator says film series is 'meant to be a trilogy', with new ABBA songs for third movie

The original creator of the Mamma Mia! musical has revealed the film series is “meant to be a trilogy”, with a third movie in the works.

Judy Craymer also told the Daily Mail she wants to use four recently-penned new ABBA tracks in the planned threequel.

Both Mamma Mia! films were huge box office hits, with the 2008 film and its 2018 sequel earning just over $1bn (£806m) worldwide between them.

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Unsurprisingly, Craymer revealed the studio is keen on the prospect of a third, sing-along visit to the idyllic Greek islands.

Craymer said: “I was meant to have been getting on with [Mamma Mia! 3], in my head, during these months. But then I got hit with COVID fog.

“I think one day there will be another film, because there’s meant to be a trilogy, you see.

“I know Universal would like me to do it.”

Craymer is hoping that a third movie could include the new songs Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus have written for a planned virtual concert.

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Craymer created Mamma Mia! after securing the rights to ABBA’s music following her working relationship with Andersson and Ulvaeus on Chess.

The show premiered in 1999 and has since played in more than 40 countries.

Phyllida Lloyd directed the movie version in 2008, with Ol Parker taking over the director’s chair for the sequel, which filled in details from the past courtesy of Lily James playing the younger version of Meryl Streep’s character.

The major cast members from the first movie all returned, including Colin Firth, Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan, Christine Baranski and Stellan Skarsgård.

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Craymer said “it’s a thought” that Here We Go Again could itself be adapted for the stage, but said the theatre sector is currently in real trouble as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

She said: “I think the government should help. It’s a massive economy, the theatre.

“You can’t say London is open without the theatres being open.”