‘Mamma Mia! 3’ deemed inevitable but delayed by busy schedules

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 12, 2026

Amanda Seyfried confirmed that a third “Mamma Mia!” film is still under consideration but will likely be delayed due to scheduling conflicts and the need to resolve key story challenges, such as the absence of Meryl Streep’s character. The original cast and producer remain interested in continuing the series, with hopes to explore new family dynamics for Sophie, though no script or concrete plans have been finalized.

Amanda Seyfried has expressed enthusiasm for a third installment of the “Mamma Mia!” film series but indicated that fans may need to wait longer due to scheduling challenges. The original cast and production team have long considered a continuation, but various factors have delayed progress.

Judy Craymer, the producer behind the successful stage musical and both previous “Mamma Mia!” movies, remains eager to bring the cast back together, according to Seyfried. “It seems inevitable,” Seyfried said during an interview at a Vote Mama campaign event on September 25. She recalled prior conversations about not letting another decade pass between films, noting that it will soon be 10 years since the last movie was filmed.

Interest in a third “Mamma Mia!” film has surfaced periodically over the years, notably intensifying earlier this year when Donna Langley, chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, publicly confirmed the intent to make “Mamma Mia! 3.” Despite the confirmation, Seyfried emphasized that no script currently exists and that the cast remains busy with other projects, complicating efforts to align schedules.

Another storyline challenge involves the fate of Meryl Streep’s character, Donna, who died in the 2018 sequel. Seyfried acknowledged this presents a creative hurdle. “We just have to figure out how to get Merylin there,” she said, referring to Streep by her nickname. “Because she’s dead. Not my idea!”

Looking ahead, Seyfried expressed interest in exploring new family dynamics for her character, Sophie. In the second film, Sophie became a mother for the first time, naming her son Donny. Seyfried hopes the character might expand her family further and possibly remarry in a future story. “The modern, mixed family,” she remarked, affirming the importance of representing diverse family structures on screen. She also suggested that Dominic Cooper’s character, Sky, might appear simply as a friend rather than a partner.

Seyfried reflected on her personal experiences during filming, sharing that her own daughter was an infant during production of the second movie and even napped on the director’s shoulder. She voiced excitement about the idea of involving her daughter in a potential third film, describing the franchise as “really a family affair.”

While no concrete plans are currently in place, the combination of the production team’s enthusiasm and audience interest suggests that “Mamma Mia! 3” remains a possibility for the future. However, timing, script development, and narrative considerations continue to delay its realization.

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