London — Universal Pictures has announced that principal photography has begun on Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
Ten years after Mamma Mia! The Movie grossed more than $600m around the world, the cast is back in an all-new original musical based on the songs of ABBA.
With the film’s original cast returning and new additions including Lily James (Cinderella, Baby Driver), the musical comedy will open on 20 July, 2018.
'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' is now in production! pic.twitter.com/ryNMeLaGgO
— Mamma Mia (@mammamiamovie) August 22, 2017
Reprising their roles from Mamma Mia! The Movie are Academy Award winner Meryl Streep as Donna, Julie Walters as Rosie and Christine Baranski as Tanya. Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper reunite as Sophie and Sky, while Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård and Oscar winner Colin Firth return to play Sophie’s three possible dads: Sam, Bill and Harry.
Ol Parker (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) writes and directs the sequel.
More about the plot
As the film goes back and forth in time to show how relationships forged in the past resonate in the present, James will play the role of Young Donna.
Filling the roles of Young Rosie and Young Tanya are Alexa Davies (A Brilliant Young Mind) and Jessica Keenan Wynn (Go Green). Young Sam will be played by Jeremy Irvine (Fallen), while Young Bill is Josh Dylan (Allied) and Young Harry is Hugh Skinner (Kill Your Friends).
“I’m so thrilled to have our brilliant original cast back and to welcome the new cast to the Mamma Mia! family,” says producer Judy Craymer .
“It was so much fun casting these young roles, and there is great excitement amongst the whole cast as we explore the characters past and present and continue this heartwarming story where it left off…told once again through much-loved ABBA songs.”
See some behind-the-scenes pics here: