Universal begins shoot on 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again'

Nine years after Mamma Mia! grossed $609m globally, Universal Pictures has begun principal photography on the sequel.

The original musical is based on the songs of ABBA and will feature the same key cast of Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, and Stellan Skarsgard. Lily James, who will be seen later this year in the awards prospect Darkest Hour, is among the newcomers and will portray Young Donna, the character played in the original by Streep.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is scheduled to open on July 20, 2018, and navigates between the past and the present. Alexa Davies and Jessica Keenan Wynn will play Young Rosie (Walters) and Young Tanya (Baranski), respectively.

Judy Craymer, creator and producer of the original stage musical, will return as producer on the new film alongside Playtone’s Gary Goetzman.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is written and directed by Ol Parker, based on the story by Catherine Johnson, Richard Curtis, and Parker. ABBA co-founders Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus return to write the music and lyrics and serve as executive producers.

Playtone’s Tom Hanks also serves as executive producer alongside Rita Wilson, Phyllida Lloyd, Richard Curtis, and Nicky Kentish Barnes.

”I’m so thrilled to have our brilliant original cast back and to welcome the new cast to the Mamma Mia! Family,” Craymer said. “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.”