A sequel to ‘Mamma Mia! The Movie’ has been confirmed and is set to hit our screens next year.
The original cast, including Meryl Streep, Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper are all expected to return for the second outing of the musical set to ABBA songs.
Universal
‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!’ will be written and directed by Ol Parker, who penned ‘The Best Exoctic Marigold Hotel’ and will feature ABBA songs from the Swedes’ back catalogue that weren’t featured in the first film.
‘Mamma Mia! The Movie’, which was released in 2008, was a huge worldwide hit, taking a whopping $609.8M at the global box office.
Until this year’s ‘Beauty And The Beast’ notched up over $1 billion at the box office, ‘Mamma Mia! was the biggest live-action musical ever worldwide.
Universal
The sequel will again be set on the Greek island of Kalokairi, and reunites the producers from the original film, Judy Craymer (who created and produced the stage show) and Gary Goetzman.
And yes, ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus have given it their seal of approval and will serve as executive producers.
‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!’ will hit cinema screens ten years after the first film, on 20 July, 2018
ABBA
Abba, the top-selling Swedish group(01 of45)
Abba, the top-selling Swedish group, on stage at Wembley Arena during their concerts which mark the group's first appearance in Britain for three years. (credit:PA)
Anna and Frida perform "Waterloo" in rehearsals(02 of45)
Anna and Frida of the Abba group singing Sweden's entry, "Waterloo", during a dress rehearsal in Brighton for the Eurovision Song contest. (credit:PA)
ABBA Royal Albert Hall(03 of45)
Agnetha Faltskog (left), Bjorn Ulvaeus and Annifrid Lyngstad during the concert by Swedish pop group ABBA at the Royal Albert Hall. (credit:PA)
ABBA disc(04 of45)
A trophy presented to ABBA for celebrating worldwide sales of over 360,000,000 on the stage to celebrates 5th year anniversary of West End Musical Mamma Mia at the Prince Edward Theatre in central London. (credit:PA)
ABBA(05 of45)
17th NOVEMBER : On this day in 1974 pop group ABBA begun their first tour of Europe. The four members of Swedish pop group "Abba" . From left to right: Benny Anderson, Anni-Fryd Lyngstad, Anna Falkstog and Bjorn Ulvaeus on their way to a press conference at Crockford's Club in London Carlton House Terrace. *The group were in Britain to attend the premiere of their first film, ABBA - The Movie, at the Warner West End 2 Cinema in Leicester Square. Much of the film is about their Australian tour. (credit:PA)
ABBA : 1974(06 of45)
1/4/74 : SWEDISH POP GROUP "ABBA" IN LONDON FOR A PHOTOCALL TO PROMOTE THEIR SONG "WATERLOO" WHICH THEY WILL ENTER INTO THE EUROVISON SONG CONTEST IN BRIGHTON. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: BENNY ANDERSSON, FRIDA LYNGSTAD, ANNA FALTSKOG AND BJORG ULVAEUS (credit:PA)
Abba congratulate each other(07 of45)
The pop group Abba congratulate each other in Brighton, after winning the Eurovision Song Contest for Sweden with "Waterloo", sung by the girls, Annifrid Lyngstad (Frida), second left, and Agnetha Faltskog (Anna). The other group members, Benny Andersson, left, and Bjorn Ulvaeus, composed the song. (credit:PA)
Swedish pop group Abba(08 of45)
Swedish pop group Abba meet a mounted policeman as they relax in Brighton, after their victory in the Eurovision Song Contest. From left: Agnetha Faltskog (Anna), Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Annifrid Lyngstad (Frida). The men composed the winning song, "Waterloo", which was sung by the girls. (credit:PA)
Abba - Heathrow Airport - London(09 of45)
Swedish pop group ABBA (from left) Benny Andersson, Annifrid Lyngatad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus at Heathrow Airport. (credit:PA)
Music - Eurovision Song Contest 1974 - Brighton(10 of45)
SWEDISH POP GROUP "ABBA" AT THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST IN BRIGHTON IN WHICH THEY WON WITH THEIR SONG "WATERLOO". FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: BJORN ULVAEUS, AGNETHA FALKSTOG, ANNIFRID LYNGSTAD AND BENNY ANDERSSON (credit:PA)
Abba (11 of45)
Swedish pop group, ABBA. (l-r) Annfrid, Benny (front) Bjorn (back) and Agnetha. (credit:PA)
Abba (12 of45)
ABBA's Anna, Bjorn, Frida, and Benny after they won the Eurovision Song Contest with "Waterloo". (credit:PA)
ABBA & Princess Margaret(13 of45)
Princess Margaret with four members of the Swedish pop group "Abba" afther she had presented them with the Carl-Alan group Award for 1977 at the Lyceum Ballroom in London. (l-r) Anni-Fryd Lyngstad, Benny Anderson, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Anna Falkstog. (credit:PA)
Music - ABBA - European & Australian Tour - Gothenburg, Sweden(14 of45)
ABBA perform on stage in Sweden. (l-r) Bjorn Ulvaeus, Anni-Fryd Lyngstad and Agnetha Faltskog (credit:PA)
Music - ABBA - European & Australian Tour - Gothenburg, Sweden(15 of45)
ABBA wish their fans goodnight after performing in Sweden. (l-r) Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog, Anni-Fryd Lyngstad and Benny Anderson (credit:PA)
Music - ABBA - Royal Albert Hall, London(16 of45)
Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog, and Frida Lyngstad, right, from Swedish pop group ABBA on stage at the Wembley Arena, London. (credit:PA)
Music - ABBA - Wembley Arena, London(17 of45)
Agnetha Faltskog, left, and Frida Lyngstad, female members of Swedish pop group ABBA on stage at the Wembley Arena, London. (credit:PA)
Music - ABBA - Wembley Arena, London(18 of45)
Bjorn Ulvaeus, from Swedish pop group ABBA on stage at the Wembley Arena, London. (credit:PA)
Music - ABBA - Wembley Arena, London(19 of45)
Agnetha Faltskog, from Swedish pop group ABBA on stage at the Wembley Arena, London. (credit:PA)
Music - ABBA - European & Australian Tour - Gothenburg, Sweden(20 of45)
ABBA perform on stage in Sweden. (l-r) Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad (credit:PA)
Swedish pop group Abba, performs during(21 of45)
Swedish pop group Abba, performs during the the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 on February 09, 1974 in Brighton with their song Waterloo. Abba won the Eurovision Song Contest in England with 'Waterloo', this was the beginning of the greatest career in Swedish pop music history. The 'Waterloo' LP was released in England and America after many TV appearances. MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO/SCANPIX SWEDEN-OLLE LINDEBORG (Photo credit should read Olle Lindeborg/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
''Mama Mia'' Musical(22 of45)
396121 01: Musician Bjorn Ulvaeus, of ABBA, takes a bow with the cast of the musical ''Mamma Mia'' October 18, 2001 in New York. ''Mamma Mia'' is a new musical based on the songs of ABBA. (Photo by Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
''Mama Mia'' Musical(23 of45)
396121 02: Musicians Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, of ABBA, take a bow at the premiere of ''Mamma Mia'' October 18, 2001 in New York. ''Mamma Mia'' is a new musical based on the songs of ABBA. (Photo by Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
''Mama Mia'' Musical(24 of45)
396121 03: Performers Dean Nolan and Karen Mason sing during the premiere of ''Mamma Mia'' October 18, 2001 in New York. ''Mamma Mia'' is a new musical based on the songs of ABBA. (Photo by Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
''Mama Mia'' Musical(25 of45)
396121 04: Performers Karen Mason, Louise Pitre, and Judy Kaye sing during the premiere of ''Mama Mia'' October 18, 2001 in New York. ''Mamma Mia'' is a new musical based on the songs of ABBA. (Photo by Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
''Mama Mia'' Musical(26 of45)
396121 05: Performer Karen Mason plays the part of Tanya in the premiere of ''Mamma Mia'' October 18, 2001 in New York. ''Mamma Mia'' is a new musical based on the songs of ABBA. (Photo by Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
''Mama Mia'' Musical(27 of45)
396121 13: Musicians Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, of ABBA, arrive for the premiere of ''Mamma Mia'' October 18, 2001 in New York. ''Mamma Mia'' is a new musical based on the songs of ABBA. (Photo by Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mama Mia! Las Vegas premiere(28 of45)
LAS VEGAS - FEBRUARY 13: Former ABBA singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad attends the premiere of 'Mama Mia!' February 13, 2003 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mama Mia! Las Vegas premiere(29 of45)
LAS VEGAS - FEBRUARY 13: Former ABBA singer Benny Andersson is interviewed by the media on February 13, 2003 at the premiere of 'Mama Mia!' at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mama Mia! Las Vegas premiere(30 of45)
LAS VEGAS - FEBRUARY 13: Former ABBA singer Benny Andersson attends the premiere of 'Mama Mia!' February 13, 2003 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mama Mia! Las Vegas premiere(31 of45)
LAS VEGAS - FEBRUARY 13: Former ABBA singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad attends the premiere of 'Mama Mia!' February 13, 2003 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mama Mia! Las Vegas premiere(32 of45)
LAS VEGAS - FEBRUARY 13: Former ABBA singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad attends the premiere of 'Mama Mia!' February 13, 2003 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mama Mia! Las Vegas premiere(33 of45)
LAS VEGAS - FEBRUARY 13: Former ABBA singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad attends the premiere of 'Mama Mia!' February 13, 2003 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Abba star Bjoern Ulvaeus (R) arrives at (34 of45)
HAMBURG, GERMANY: Abba star Bjoern Ulvaeus (R) arrives at the premiere of the musical 'Dance of the Vampire' in Hamburg, 07 December 2003. The musical is based on Oscar-winning French director Roman Polanski's 1967 movie 'The Fearless Vampire Killers'. AFP PHOTO DDP/JOERN POLLEX GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read JOERN POLLEX/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mamma Mia! - 5th Anniversary(35 of45)
LONDON - APRIL 6: Benny Andersson of ABBA and his wife Mona Norklit arrive at the fifth anniversary performance of 'Mamma Mia!,' a musical based on ABBA's hits at the Prince of Wales Theatre on April 6, 2004 in London, England. (Photo by David Westing/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mamma Mia! - 5th Anniversary(36 of45)
LONDON - APRIL 6: Benny Andersson of ABBA arrives at the fifth anniversary performance of 'Mamma Mia!,' a musical based on ABBA's hits at the Prince of Wales Theatre on April 6, 2004 in London, England. (Photo by David Westing/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mamma Mia! - 5th Anniversary(37 of45)
LONDON - APRIL 6: Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA arrives at the fifth anniversary performance of 'Mamma Mia!,' a musical based on ABBA's hits at the Prince of Wales Theatre on April 6, 2004 in London, England. (Photo by David Westing/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mamma Mia! - 5th Anniversary(38 of45)
LONDON - APRIL 6: Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA arrives at the fifth anniversary performance of 'Mamma Mia!,' a musical based on ABBA's hits at the Prince of Wales Theatre on April 6, 2004 in London, England. (Photo by David Westing/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mamma Mia! - 5th Anniversary(39 of45)
LONDON - APRIL 6: Freda Lyngstad of ABBA arrives at the fifth anniversary performance of 'Mamma Mia!,' a musical based on ABBA's hits at the Prince of Wales Theatre on April 6, 2004 in London, England. (Photo by David Westing/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mamma Mia! - 5th Anniversary(40 of45)
LONDON - APRIL 6: Freda Lyngstad of ABBA arrives at the fifth anniversary performance of 'Mamma Mia!,' a musical based on ABBA's hits at the Prince of Wales Theatre on April 6, 2004 in London, England. (Photo by David Westing/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Mamma Mia! - 5th Anniversary(41 of45)
LONDON - APRIL 6: Frida Lyngstad of ABBA arrives at the fifth anniversary performance of 'Mamma Mia!,' a musical based on ABBA's hits, at the Prince of Wales Theatre April 6, 2004 in London, England. (Photo by David Westing/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad (L) of the lege(42 of45)
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad (L) of the legendary ABBA group arrives to the Polar Prize Musical award in Stockholm 24 May 2004. The Polar Prize in Music was founded by ABBA's manager Stig 'Stikkan' Andersson who died in 1997. This years prize goes to BB King and Hungarian born Gyorgy Ligeti. Lyngstad, who now lives in Schwitzerland is estimated to be the wealthiest of the four in Abba with a fortune of some 150-200 million Euro. AFP PHOTO-SVEN NACKSTRAND (Photo credit should read SVEN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Frida, singer of the former Swedish pop(43 of45)
BERLIN, GERMANY: Frida, singer of the former Swedish pop group 'ABBA', performs during a gala of the 'Golden Hen'-awarding in Berlin, 22 September 2004. The 'Golden Hen' is a media prize awarded since ten years by the German magazine 'Super Illu'. AFP PHOTO POOL DDP/MARCUS BRANDT (Photo credit should read MARCUS BRANDT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Frida, singer of the former Swedish pop(44 of45)
COLOGNE, GERMANY: Frieda, singer of the former Swedish pop group 'ABBA', performs on stage during a concert in Cologne, 05 October 2004. AFP PHOTO DDP/HENNING KAISER GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read HENNING KAISER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Jose Carreras Gala(45 of45)
LEIPZIG, GERMANY - DECEMBER 16: Anni-Fried Lyngstadt, formerly of the band Abba, performs during the final dress rehearsal prior to the Jose Carreras Gala 2004 at the Messehalle on December 16, 2004 in Leipzig, Germany. The gala is a charity to raise money to fight leukemia. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)