Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again: A Sequel That Takes Us Back To Where It All Began

Alright, listen up, friends. There may have been just one ABBA Broadway musical, but Hollywood isn’t done with the magic of Mamma Mia! And guess what? We couldn’t be more thrilled. The first trailer for Meryl Streep’s Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again has just dropped, and it’s everything we hoped for and more. This time around, the film reunites most of the original cast, and we’re promised at least three ABBA classics: “When I Kissed the Teacher,” “I Wonder (Departure),” and “Angel Wise,” along with a reprised version of the iconic title track. Oh, and did I mention this movie is both a sequel and a prequel? It’s scheduled to hit theaters on July 20, 2018. Hit play below to watch the trailer!

Let’s rewind for a moment, shall we? In the original Mamma Mia!, we met Sophie Sheridan, played by the ever-talented Amanda Seyfried. Sophie, unbeknownst to her mother Donna (played by the incomparable Meryl Streep), invites three men to her wedding. Why, you ask? Because she discovered from Donna’s diary that one of them could be her father. These men are Stellan Skarsgard as the adventurous Bill Anderson, Colin Firth as the charming Harry Bright, and Pierce Brosnan as the dashing Sam Carmichael. Spoiler alert: Sam turns out to be the one, and after rekindling his romance with Donna, they tie the knot. But here’s the thing—what about the untold story of how Donna, Sam, and Harry first crossed paths? That’s exactly what Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is all about. This time around, the movie starts in the present but takes us back in time to explore the origins of these unforgettable characters.

Meet the New Cast: Young Donna, Harry, and Sam

Now, let’s talk about the fresh faces bringing these iconic characters to life in their younger years. Lily James, best known for her roles in Downton Abbey, Cinderella, Fast Girls, Baby Driver, and Darkest Hour, steps into the shoes of young Donna. She’s joined by Hugh Skinner, who plays a youthful Harry Bright after making waves in Les Misérables, Hampstead, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Rounding out the trio is Jeremy Irvine, who takes on the role of young Sam Carmichael, fresh from roles in Stonewall, The Beautiful Fantastic, and Fallen. And here’s the cherry on top: Cher, in her first role since 2010, plays Donna’s mother, Ruby. Can you believe it? Cher! This casting choice alone is enough to make us swoon.

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(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Revisiting the Original: Mixed Reviews, But a Hit at the Box Office

Let’s take a moment to reflect on the original Mamma Mia! While it was a box office smash, raking in an impressive $610 million on a modest $52 million budget, it didn’t exactly win over the critics. Some reviewers weren’t too kind about the singing abilities of the cast, with Pierce Brosnan bearing the brunt of the criticism. But you know what? Pierce handled it with grace and humor, and he’s back for more in this sequel. In fact, he spoke to USA Today about the new film, saying, “I think the world is ready for Mamma Mia! 2. And I believe the world is ready to hear me sing once more.” He joked, “Maybe that was my problem, my tongue was firmly in my cheek when I was singing.” Now, that’s what I call good sportsmanship.