Honestly, it feels like we’ve been waiting on a pier in Kalokairi for a boat that’s perpetually "just about to dock." If you’re looking for a concrete release date for Mamma Mia 3, I’ll give it to you straight: there isn't one yet. But before you close the tab in frustration, there’s actually a lot of movement behind the scenes that makes this third installment feel more like an "if" and less like a "maybe."
Universal Pictures knows they have a goldmine. The first two films pulled in over $1 billion combined. That's serious money. Producers and cast members haven't stopped talking about it, and while Hollywood schedules are a nightmare to align, the momentum for Mamma Mia 3 is higher than it’s ever been since Here We Go Again hit theaters back in 2018.
The Judy Craymer Factor
Judy Craymer is the woman who basically willed the entire Mamma Mia! phenomenon into existence. She’s the producer who convinced ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus that their disco hits could work as a theatrical narrative.
She hasn't been shy about her goals.
Craymer has gone on record multiple times—including a notable interview with Deadline—stating that a trilogy was always part of the mental map. She’s basically said that the "Mamma Mia" brand is meant to be a three-act story. COVID-19 definitely threw a wrench in the gears, slowing down the development phase where they figure out which songs are left in the ABBA vault and how to thread them into a script that doesn't feel like a cheap cash grab.
There's a specific challenge here. They’ve already used the big hits. Dancing Queen, Waterloo, and Mamma Mia have already been featured (some twice). To make Mamma Mia 3 work, they need to dig into the deeper cuts or lean heavily on the new material from ABBA’s 2021 comeback album, Voyage.
What the Cast is Saying
Christine Baranski, who plays the legendary Tanya, recently gave fans a massive jolt of hope. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she mentioned that she was in London having dinner with Judy Craymer, and the producer gave her the "narrative" for the third film.
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That’s a huge distinction.
It means they aren't just wishing for a movie; they have a plot. Baranski is clearly down for it. She joked about how they’d all just be on a Greek island having a good time regardless, which is exactly the vibe that makes these movies work. It’s about the chemistry.
Then you have Amanda Seyfried. She’s been vocal about her desire to return as Sophie. However, she’s also been the voice of reason, pointing out that it comes down to the script and the "Abba-tastic" music. Meryl Streep is the biggest question mark, obviously, given what happened to Donna in the second film. But Streep herself told Vogue that she’s open to anything, even coming back as a ghost or a twin sister if the idea is fun enough.
"I told Judy, if she can figure out a way to reincarnate Donna, I’m into it," Streep said. When the greatest living actress says she wants back in, the studio usually finds a way to make it happen.
The "Voyage" Connection and Music Selection
The biggest hurdle for Mamma Mia 3 has always been the music. You can’t have a Mamma Mia movie without ABBA, and you can’t use the same five songs for the entire runtime without people getting bored.
The release of Voyage changed the game.
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Songs like Don’t Shut Me Down or I Still Have Faith in You feel tailor-made for a cinematic third act. They have that melancholic, reflective energy that fits a story about aging, legacy, and family. Plus, there are still some gems from the 70s and 80s that haven't been given the "big production" treatment. Take a Chance on Me was in the first one, but what about The Day Before You Came? Or Summer Night City? There is plenty of gas left in the tank.
Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson are notoriously protective of their catalog. They won't sign off unless the arrangements are right. This is likely where the "development hell" happens—not in the boardrooms, but in the recording studio.
Why the Delay is Actually a Good Sign
Look, we've all seen sequels that come out a year later and feel like absolute trash. Mamma Mia 3 taking its time suggests that the creative team isn't interested in just slapping a "3" on a poster.
They need to figure out the "Donna Problem."
Killing off Donna Sheridan in the second movie was a bold move. It gave Here We Go Again its emotional weight, but it also left a Meryl-sized hole in the franchise. A third movie has to bridge the gap between the past and the present without feeling like a repeat of the "young Donna" flashbacks we already saw with Lily James.
Maybe it’s about Sophie’s child growing up? Or perhaps it explores the Dynamos' earlier years even further? The complexity of the timeline is something the writers have to navigate carefully to maintain the "human" quality of the series.
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Moving Beyond the "Trilogy" Rumors
There is a lot of misinformation floating around TikTok and X (Twitter). You’ve probably seen the "leaked" posters or the fan-made trailers that look suspiciously like AI. None of those are real. Universal hasn't released a single official frame or teaser for Mamma Mia 3.
What is real is the demand.
In the world of streaming and declining box office numbers, "comfort movies" are king. Mamma Mia is the ultimate comfort franchise. It’s blue water, white buildings, and people in spandex singing about their feelings. The studio knows that even if the movie takes another two years to get into production, the audience will be there.
The timeline for a movie like this is usually 12 to 18 months from the start of filming to the theater. Since cameras aren't rolling yet, we are looking at a 2026 or 2027 window at the earliest. That’s just the reality of high-level film production.
Actionable Steps for Fans
While we wait for the official green light, there are a few things you can do to stay in the loop and actually support the project's move into production:
- Watch the Official Channels: Follow Judy Craymer and the official Mamma Mia! accounts on Instagram. They often drop breadcrumbs through photos of "meetings" that are actually pre-production catch-ups.
- Support the "Voyage" Show: If you’re in London, the ABBA Voyage digital concert is essentially the R&D lab for what the music in the third movie might sound like. The success of that show proves to Universal that the brand is still incredibly potent.
- Ignore the "Fandom" Leaks: If a poster doesn't come from a major outlet like Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, or Deadline, it’s fake. Don't let the AI-generated trailers get your hopes up for a 2025 release that isn't happening.
- Revisit the Soundtracks: Streaming the existing music keeps the numbers high on Spotify and Apple Music. Studios look at these metrics when deciding how much budget to allocate for music licensing in a sequel.
The story of the Sheridans isn't over. It’s just waiting for the right song to start.