A 'Mamma Mia!' Sequel Is In The Works

To all of my fellow Mamma Mia! fans, I have some pretty epic news — Universal Pictures has confirmed that Mamma Mia! is getting a sequel. And according to Deadline, at least some of the original cast is expected to return. It's hard to believe that it's been almost a decade since Mamma Mia! The Movie came out. It seems like it was only yesterday that I was singing along with Meryl Streep to "Dancing Queen." Well, it actually was yesterday, the Mamma Mia! soundtrack is still one of my most listened to playlists on Spotify.

Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again is slated to come out on July 20, 2018, according to Deadline. The original Mamma Mia! was based on the immensely popular play of the same name, and included all of ABBA's top songs. So if you're like me — or my dad, who's also a fan of Mamma Mia! — then you might be wondering what material is left to cover in a sequel? Like, we literally had a discussion about this very topic last night.

Well, as Deadline explains, the sequel will be based on a new story, with a script by Ol Parker, who's known for writing The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. It will include ABBA songs not featured in the first film, and a few of the bands most memorable songs will reportedly be brought back. I’m not exactly sure what that means, but it gives me hope that by next summer I’ll have a new cover of "Dancing Queen" to listen to on repeat for weeks on end.

Deadline also reported that Universal is expecting members of the original cast to return, and that the sequel will also include "some new faces." Although it hasn’t been confirmed, I would be shocked if Streep didn’t reprise her lead role. Currently, not much is known about the plot of Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, but sources told Variety that one option could focus on Streep’s character’s life before the original film, which would make it more of a prequel than a sequel.

Whichever direction the film makers go with Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, I'll be seeing it opening weekend regardless. The original film was so iconic that I honestly can't imagine the new one being anything less than epic.