Mamma Mia! was released 15 YEARS ago this month 😲
Sorry, what?!
Starring the likes of Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, Julie Walters and Colin Firth, Mamma Mia! has become one of the most popular movie musicals since it was first released in 2008, featuring the music from Swedish sensations ABBA.
Although it only feels like yesterday since we flocked to the cinema to sing and dance along to 'Dancing Queen', 'Lay All Your Love', and of course, Pierce Brosnan's version of 'SOS', the movie was actually released 15 years ago!!!
Following the premiere at London's Leicester Square on 30th June 2008, the hugely-antipcated movie hit cinemas in the UK on 10th July, before landing in America on 18th July, going on to take over $611 million at the Box Office.
After the positive feedback from the first movie, the cast ensembled once again in 2018 for the sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, which introduced Lily James, Jeremy Irvine, Josh Dylan and Hugh Skinner to the cast. The movie acts as both a prequel and sequel to the 2008 smash, featuring scenes from main character Donna's young life in 1979.
Ever since the second movie dropped, rumours have been rife of a third film, with a number of the cast and producers teasing fans.
Last year, film maker Ol Parker dropped an exciting hint that a third instalment could be happening. Speaking during an interview with ScreenRant, Ol said: "Judy Craymer, the genius producer behind the musical and the first two films, always plans for it to be a trilogy. That's all I can say.
"The first one made an enormous amount of money, and I think we made a fair amount too. I know that there is a hunger for a third, and I know that she has a plan. Wouldn't it be lovely?"
In May this year, producer Judy then revealed the exciting news that a potential third film could even bring back Meryl Streep. Speaking to Deadline she revealed that a third Mamma Mia movie is 'in its earliest stages.'
Emphasising that a third film is not yet 'official', Judy said: "I don't want to over-egg it, but I know there's a trilogy there. 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."
Several cast members have also shared that they would be keen to return in the past, including Pierce Brosnan who said: "It's criminal how much fun you have on that movie. I think everybody would be in... I'm sure there's some plans."
Check out the biggest movies in 2023:
Magic Mike's Last Dance
Release date: 10th February
Magic Mike returned in 2023! The latest movie saw Channing Tatum reprise his role of, well, Magic Mike, alongside Salma Hayek. Magic Mike's Last Dance followed on from 2015's Magic Mike XXL, and was the third film in the franchise.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Release date: 17th February
Originally set for a 2022 release, the newest Ant-Man film was pushed back to 2023, and officially graced us in February! The action-packed Marvel Studios film welcomed back Paul Rudd in his famous role of Ant-Man in the Marvel Universe.
Scream VI
Release date: 10th March
A new Scream film was also released in 2023. Scream VI stars Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega and Hayden Panettiere - and Courteney Cox reprised her role as Gale Weathers.
The Pope's Exorcist
Release date: 7th April
This supernatural horror follows Father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican, as he investigates a young boy's terrifying possession. Inspired by Gabriele Amorth's actual files, the plot follows the exorcist - played by none other than Russell Crowe, we might add - as he uncovers a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has kept hidden.
Peter Pan and Wendy
Release date: 28th April
Disney excited us all when they revealed some brand new titles coming in 2023, including a new Peter Pan film! The movie landed on Disney+ in April, and saw Jude Law take on the infamous role of Captain Hook.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Release date: 3rd May
Another Marvel film to add to the collection, Guardians of the Galaxy returned for its third volume, as the gang rallied to defend the universe - and one of their own. Chris Pratt yet again starred in the film, alongside co-stars such as Dave Bautista and Will Poulter.
The Little Mermaid live-action remake
Release date: 26th May
Disney's highly-anticipated live-action remake of The Little Mermaid swam into cinemas in May 2023, starring Halle Bailey as the famous Ariel. Other stars featuring in the film include Melissa McCarthy, as Ursula, Daveed Diggs, as Sebastian, and Awkwafina, as Scuttle.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Release date: 28th June
Indiana Jones returned! Yep, Harrison Ford reprised his role as Indy in the fifth film of the franchise, following on from following Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull which was released way back in 2008!
With an original release date of 30th June, the UK and Ireland luckily saw the film released two days prior.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part One
Release date: 14th July
Tom Cruise returned as Ethan Hunt in the latest instalment in his Mission Impossible franchise. The film is action-packed, with Tom sharing details of 'greatest stunt in cinema history' in some behind-the-scenes clips!
Barbie
Release date: 21st July
The highly-anticipated Barbie film hit cinemas in July 2023, starring Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and plenty of other huge names, such as Will Ferrell, Helen Mirren, Michael Cera and Sex Education's Emma Mackey and Ncuti Gatwa.
Oppenheimer
Release date: 21st July
The Christopher Nolan movie chronicles the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a theoretical physicist who was pivotal in developing the first nuclear weapons as part of the Manhattan Project. The film had a huge cast including Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr. and Florence Pugh to name a few. Released on the same day as the Barbie movie, so was born the 'Barbenheimer' meme.
Haunted Mansion
Release date: 11th August
The much-loved film made its return in 2023, with Disney releasing a brand new version of their classic movie Haunted Mansion. Starring the likes of Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, Danny DeVito, Jamie Lee Curtis, LaKeith Stanfield, Dan Levy and Jared Leto, this re-vamp was seemingly scarier than the original, with the certificate being handed a 12A for moderate horror - a jump up from the original's PG certificate.
The Exorcist: Believer
Release date: 6th October
Marking 50-years since the release of the original film The Exorcist, a new chapter began in the form of The Exorcist: Believer. The film saw Ellen Burstyn reprises her iconic role as Chris MacNeil, for the first time since 1973. Not only that, but the reboot is part of a trilogy, with the follow-up film The Exorcist: Deceiver having a release date of 18th April 2025.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Release date: 17th November
Following the release of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1, and Mockingjay Part 2, the latest Hunger Games film was released in mid-November 2023. The fifth instalment in The Hunger Games film series, the 2023 movie is a dystopian film based on the prequel of the same name.
WONKA
Release date: 15th December
The highly-anticipated WONKA film was FINALLY with us in December 2023. The film, starring Timothée Chalamet as the master chocolatier, details the years before Wonka opened his world-renowned chocolate factory, exploring his journey to becoming an illustrious candymaker. With a totally star-studded cast, it's a staple in the 2023 film catalogue.
Ghostbusters (untitled sequel)
Release date: 20th December
A sequel to the epic 2020 film Ghostbusters: Afterlife closed the year off, with the movie being a follow-on from the iconic original film. The potential for the sequel was teased in the end credits of Afterlife, when it was revealed the next instalment will be set in the iconic firehouse in New York City. Nostalgic!
Although there's no guarantee of a third movie, what we do know is that ITV have commissioned a brand new entertainment show called MAMMA MIA! I Have a Dream.
The eight-part series, which will air later in 2023, will be searching to find two musical theatre stars to play the now iconic roles of Sophie and Sky from the hit movies, for the London production of MAMMA MIA!
Find out everything you need to know about MAMMA MIA! I Have a Dream? right here.