The stage is set, the spotlight’s on, and the audience—much like the characters in this cult-classic franchise—is waiting to sing “I do, I do, I do, I do, I do!” to Mamma Mia! 3. Ah yes, the cinematic world built around ABBA’s timeless hits is once again the talk of the town.
“Everybody Wants Another Film,” But What’s the Hold-Up?
Producer Judy Craymer, the unsung hero behind the beloved Mamma Mia! series, sat down with Variety to chat about her latest venture, a reality TV show, intriguingly named Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream. In the midst of discussions about this new competitive platform for aspiring West End stars, Craymer dropped a musical note on the much-anticipated sequel.
“I am so hands-on with everything that I can only do so much. So the TV show has been a big priority. I’m sure [the third movie] will happen. I’m in the privileged position that I have Universal Studios wanting to do it, who I love working with, and I have a storyline. It just always takes a certain amount of time with Mamma Mia,” said Craymer.
While Craymer is confident that a third movie will see the light of day, she mentioned that ABBA songwriters and co-producers Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson are currently committed to their reunion album, Voyage.
Imagining the Next Mamma Mia! Adventure
The franchise could go in a multitude of directions story-wise. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again left us with several narrative threads begging to be explored. One possibility involves yet another flashback-heavy installment following the birth of Sophie’s child, interwoven with snippets of her early life on the picturesque Greek island of Kalokairi.
“It just always takes a certain amount of time with Mamma Mia. Bjorn and Benny always take a certain amount of convincing,” Craymer added. “I don’t know how much more convincing they’re gonna have because everybody wants another film.”
ABBA’s Goldmine of Untapped Hits
ABBA’s discography is a treasure trove for musical storytelling. From classics to deeper cuts like “If It Wasn’t For the Night” and “Cassandra,” there’s a wide range of tracks that haven’t yet made it to the big screen. The previous installment also introduced the concept of reprising songs from earlier films, adding another layer of musical magic to the experience.
“We’ve done the television show and now maybe I’ll focus on the movie. Maybe that’ll be a second 25-year celebration,” Craymer hinted.
Will The New Reality Show Fast-Track Mamma Mia! 3?
A lot hinges on the success of Craymer’s TV show, Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream. If the series captures the audience’s imagination just as the movies have, it could pave the way for the next installment to become a priority. After all, as Judy Craymer so rightfully declared, “everybody wants another film.”
Whether it’s the spellbinding Greek isles or ABBA’s timeless music that keeps us yearning for more, one thing’s for sure: the Mamma Mia! franchise isn’t ready to take its final bow just yet. So, could Mamma Mia! 3 be the next standing ovation for Universal Studios? Only time—and perhaps a sprinkle of that ABBA magic—will tell.
