Mamma Mia 3: Why We Don’t Need It

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Why? Why does Hollywood keep doing this?

I’ve grown tired of the trend that many popular films at the box office are sequels, reboots, or remakes. I’ve voiced my opinion on this matter numerous times. The Disney live-action remakes haven’t been successful, the inevitable sequels have flopped, and it seems that every now and then an original movie like “Sinners” emerges and leaves a lasting impression (it’s truly extraordinary).

There are films similar to Mamma Mia! that didn’t seem to warrant a follow-up, but they still received one because, well, why not? However, Mamma Mia! was among the highest-grossing musical movies ever made, and I can understand why a sequel was produced, even if I may not fully concur.

Now, there are rumors of a third movie being made, with whispers circulating online, but let me clarify – we absolutely don’t need it. Here’s why it’s time to draw the line.

The First Mamma Mia Was Great, The Second Was Fine

For quite some time, I’ve expressed my deep affection for the original “Mamma Mia!” movie, and to be honest, my feelings haven’t wavered over the years. In truth, this film serves as a comfort to me, just as it likely does for numerous others.

For quite some time, Mamma Mia! has held a special place in my life, often ranking among my favorite comfort movies. In fact, I was fortunate enough to attend the Broadway production of it during 8th grade as a celebratory gift, such was my affection for the film adaptation. Over the years, this movie and its cast have become an integral part of who I am.

Then Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again came out, and it was…fine.

It’s worth mentioning again: this movie didn’t call for a follow-up. The conclusion was just right, wrapping up with a satisfying feel-good vibe, and there wasn’t much reason to explore Sophie’s tale any further. But given its popularity as a big musical, many people were fond of it, so I guess they made another one anyway.

The second movie didn’t earn as much as the initial one, but it still managed to generate enough interest for discussions about a potential third installment – which is quite surprising! Why, though?

The Story Really Does Not Need To Be Continued

This is my biggest qualm. The story is done. It’s complete; we don’t need anything else with this!

In the initial movie, the performance was top-notch. Interestingly, it shared the same plot as the stage play: a young woman embarking on a journey to find her real biological father, reaching out to three men she believed, from her mother’s diary, might be potential candidates. The narrative concludes with her showing indifference and accepting that all three could share the role of a father in her life. As they all head towards an enchanting party in Greece, it’s hard to imagine a more fitting ending.

Initially, another movie followed, one I needed to revisit to give a clear summary of its narrative. It predominantly moved back and forth in time, connecting Sophie’s struggles with Sky to Donna’s past, particularly the summer during which Sophie was conceived.

The workload is simply overwhelming; it’s just too much. Regrettably, we learn that Donna is no longer with us; she has passed away, which is truly heartbreaking. Frankly, I feel that Meryl Streep’s role was significantly reduced in the sequel to “Mamma Mia!” compared to the original, even though it wasn’t one of her greatest films.

What’s the purpose of going on with this narrative? Could they start a whole new story for a potential third movie? Is Sophie set to control the island completely now? I’m unsure.

I Don’t Think Anyone From The First Two Are Set To Come Back

A Deadline article published in May 2025 reports that the production of “Mamma Mia 3” is currently underway, according to film producer Judy Cramer. She hinted that Meryl Streep could reprise her role for the third installment, although there’s been no official confirmation about it yet.

Despite her death in the Mamma Mia universe, it’s quite surprising you suggest Donna might reappear. As for the original cast returning, there’s been no official word on that yet. All we have are hints and speculation; no concrete information or confirmations have been made public.

Regarding this, the Deadline article hinted at Sabrina Carpenter potentially being part of the Mamma Mia 3 cast, which sounds intriguing; however, I can’t help but feel uneasy about the prospect of a popular music artist like her joining such a cherished series without any official confirmation or updates on the returning stars.

How Many More Ultra Famous ABBA Songs Are There To Put In Here?

Let me ask this without coming off as too green: Is it feasible to incorporate additional renowned ABBA tracks in another film, or have we reached our limit?

Clearly, the initial Mamma Mia! movie boasted the most iconic ABBA tunes since that’s what the original Mamma Mia! musical was centered around – it was a jukebox musical that primarily showcased their most well-known tracks. The subsequent film incorporated less famous songs, some moderately popular ones, along with a few re-recordings of songs we heard in the first movie.

Is it feasible to add more songs from this artist’s collection that are well-known to the audience in our third movie, or are we considering less popular tracks as well? It seems unclear what direction we’re heading in with this decision.

There Are So Many Other Great Musicals That Could Be Adapted

Among the things that frustrate me most is the fact that there are so many fantastic contemporary musicals that could be improved through adaptations. But instead, we’re getting another Mamma Mia! movie. It just seems hard to believe.”

This version maintains the original meaning while using more common and conversational language.

Instead of delving into the Greek-rooted stories of “Hadestown” or the comical tunes of “Book of Mormon”, it seems that yet another adaptation of “Mamma Mia” might be on the horizon, which I find rather uninspiring compared to potential adaptations like a film version of “Hamilton” by Lin-Manuel Miranda, an eventuality that may indeed occur. In fact, a Disney+ original film based on the stage production of “Mamma Mia” already exists.

It seems to me that sequels often tarnish the original’s reputation even more, which is something I don’t want for the Mamma Mia movies. Ideally, they should have ended with the first one, but as we all know, Hollywood can’t help but churn out more films. I’m afraid we might be in store for another installment soon, and my intuition tells me it won’t be good.

Ugh, maybe I should rewatch the original. That’ll put me in a better mood.

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2025-06-23 00:08