First Oh mom released in 2008 and its sequel, Oh mom! Here we go again (READ REVIEW) came out in 2018, two films that brought great satisfaction to Universal (and ABBA Obviously). The second chapter had a larger budget, about 75 million, but it still grossed 402 million theatrically.
On the occasion of the 15th anniversary Oh momVogue published an interesting Oral History of the beloved romantic comedy Jukebox, which also touches on the subject of a hypothetical third chapter. When the discussion moves into this area, Donna LangleyPresident of Universal, admits that:
The studio would be happy to make a third film: and I’ll leave it at that.
At this point he also intervenes Amanda Seyfriedtranslator Sophie responds:
I challenge you to find me someone who doesn’t need a third Mamma Mia!
The actress, however, is well aware that everything will depend on Universal’s willingness to pay actors’ salaries, which from 2008 to today have become extremely expensive, so much so that the salary factor makes Mama Mia 3 almost impossible:
No one says “no” to this proposal, but no one says “yes” either. Those who have the power to decide everything probably can’t afford to pay us, to be honest. I’m sorry to say this because I would make Mamma Mia 3 for free – of course I would – but that’s not what we do. What’s right is right, and I have a feeling the third movie will depend on something as stupid as whether Universal is chasing the money!
Stellan Skarsgård jokingly adds:
I’ll be in the urn when the Mamma Mia 3 script comes out. But I will participate as willingly as a heap of ashes.
Meryl Streep, her co-star in the first film, whose character has moved on to a “better life” in the sequel and appears only in a cameo role, states:
I am available for everything! Of course, I will definitely have to schedule a knee exam before the shoot, but if there is an idea that excites me, I would participate. I told (producer Judy Kramer, ed.) that if she could find a way to bring Donna back, I’d be all for it. Or it could be like one of those soap operas where Donna comes back and reveals that it was actually her twin sister who died!
However, he ironically suggests changing the name:
We may have to call the film Nonna Mia when we shoot it.
Here’s what ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson have to say:
Ulvaeus: We haven’t heard any thoughts on this at the moment. I’d love to see another movie, but it has to be based on a script that can really excite me. It’s much easier to accept the second film than the third. This time I have to be even more convinced. (…) Never say never, but it seems to me that there simply aren’t enough songs for the third Mamma Mia!
Andersson: One of the reasons, Mamma Mia! works so well because all the songs are familiar to the audience. Personally, I think the first Mamma Mia! This is a really good movie. Music in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is good, but I’m not as interested in the story of this feature film, and it feels like it wasn’t written by Katherine Johnson like the first one.
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SOURCE: Vogue magazine