Hold onto your dancing shoes, ABBA fans! The long-awaited Mamma Mia 3 is finally gaining serious momentum, and Universal Pictures is pulling out all the stops to bring back the one and only Meryl Streep. It's been nearly a decade since Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again left us craving more sun-soaked Greek escapades and family drama, but the wait might soon be over.
In an exclusive bombshell dropped at the 2026 BAFTAs, Universal Pictures Chairwoman Donna Langley confirmed to Deadline Hollywood that a third installment is officially in the works. Langley didn't just hint—she declared, "There will be a Mamma Mia 3," sending shockwaves through the fan community. But the real headline? She's vowed to "find a way" to bring back Meryl Streep, even though her character Donna tragically passed away off-screen between films.
Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried in 'Mamma Mia!'. Peter Mountain/Universal Pictures
Langley is currently in top-secret talks with producer Judy Craymer, the mastermind behind the original stage production. While no filming dates have been set, insiders reveal that the studio is exploring creative ways to resurrect Streep's Donna—think flashbacks, dream sequences, or even a musical ghost cameo. "If Streep is interested, we will find a way to bring her back," Langley promised, hinting at a plot twist that could redefine the franchise.
The delay since Here We Go Again's blockbuster success—earning over four times its budget in 2018—has left fans and cast members baffled. But now, the enthusiasm is electric. Pierce Brosnan, who plays Sam Carmichael, confirmed in 2022 that he'd return and predicted "everybody would be in." Amanda Seyfried is already brainstorming ideas, even floating fan suggestions like casting Sabrina Carpenter as her on-screen daughter.
Christine Baranski, Meryl Streep, and Julie Walters in 'Mamma Mia!'. Peter Mountain/Universal
And what about Streep herself? In 2023, she gave a tentative yes, joking, "I'm up for anything." With her signature wit, she added, "I'll have to schedule a knee scoping before we film, but if there's an idea that excites me, I'm totally there." Could this mean a flashback to Donna's younger days, or a supernatural twist? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: Universal is determined to make this reunion happen.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops. Will Meryl Streep return to the Greek islands? The countdown to Mamma Mia 3 has officially begun!
