Mamma Mia 3 is finally happening – and it’s been confirmed in rather a bizarre way.
After the success of the first two blockbuster movie musicals, starring the likes of Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan and Cher and stuffed with ’s hit songs, – and whispers – of a final big-screen adventure in .
However, it’s not until today that it appears it is actually all a-go, 15 years after the original and five years on from .
The announcement of the news was left to one of its newest cast members too, when dropped the delightfully musical bombshell.
Having taken part as a judge in , the Chatty Man comedian revealed that he had been told he by producer Judy Craymer.
Alan, 47, said on Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp: ‘Judy Cramer the producer has said that I’m gonna be in Mamma Mia 3.’
He added: ‘She said this and we did a press conference and I said, ‘Say it, Say it!’ because she’d had a few wines when she said it so I wanted her to say it in front of all the press.’
When co-host Sian Welby clarified, ‘So as in the film!?’, Alan responded: ‘The film, yeah, I’m going to Hollywood baby!’
Although this might seem rather surprising, Alan has obviously worked with Mamma Mia maestro Craymer closely on the TV talent show this year, which hunts for two unknown stars to be given lead roles in the West End production.
He also dropped rather a few pointed comments about his movie ambition, and even what part he could play in the franchise, at a screening Q&A ahead of broadcast.
Judy confirmed to press including Metro.co.uk that he had put his hand up to appear in the as-yet-untitled film.
‘He’s been sending me cash on a weekly basis,’ she joked, before he expressed a desire to play a ‘camp waiter’ in the next movie.
‘Surely you can write that in!’ he implored, before adding: ‘I’m not getting any younger.’
So, keep your eyed peeled!
Craymer had spoken about her earlier this year, as she said it was in its ‘earliest stages’ but not quite ‘official’ back in May.
‘I don’t want to over-egg it, but I know there’s a trilogy there,’ she told.
Even better, she’s hoping to tempt back all of its previous stars to join Alan after coming up with a way in the script.
‘There is a story there, and I do think Meryl should come back – and if the script is right, she would, I think, because she really loved playing Donna.’
At the I Have A Dream Q&A, Judy also admitted that ‘everything with Mamma Mia takes a long time’.
‘It took many years for it to happen for television, but I do hope so,’ she shared of her desire for a third film.
After a decade of working to convince Abba to give her the rights to their songs, in 1999 Judy’s musical hit the stage on the West End and has now been seen by over 65million people worldwide.
The first film, which also featured Dame Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård and Dominic Cooper, was an instant hit and grossed $611million (£503.9m), becoming the fifth highest-grossing film of 2008.
Lily James then led the cast of the sequel, which featured her a s a young version of Donna and Cher as Donna’s mother.
It was in 2020 that Judy then announced a third film was in development, but not much had been .
Metro.co.uk contacted reps for Judy Craymer for comment.
