Mamma Mia 2: Meryl Streep’s Absence, Plot & Mamma Mia 3 News

Few jukebox musicals spark the kind of joy that Mamma Mia! does, but fans were caught off guard when the 2018 sequel arrived without its star – Meryl Streep’s Donna Sheridan was gone, not just from the cast, but from the story itself. Here’s why the sequel took that bold turn, how it connects to the original, and what the future holds for the franchise.

Global box office: $395 million ·
Rotten Tomatoes score: 80% ·
Release date: July 20, 2018 ·
Director: Ol Parker ·
Sequel to: Mamma Mia! (2008)

Six key facts at a glance:

Why didn’t Meryl Streep join Mamma Mia 2?

The most talked‑about absence in recent film sequels has a layered answer. Meryl Streep, who played the free‑spirited Donna Sheridan in the 2008 original, does not appear in the main narrative of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Director Ol Parker explained that the decision to kill off Donna between films was driven by both creative necessity and practical reality (CBR (comics & culture news)).

Meryl Streep’s schedule and commitments

• Streep is known for selectively choosing roles, often avoiding unnecessary sequels (ScreenRant).
• She had other projects lined up during the 2017 production window, making a full‑time return difficult.

The outcome: Streep agreed to a brief cameo – appearing as a ghost‑like figure in one scene, singing alongside the cast (CBR).

Creative reasons for Donna’s absence

Writer Richard Curtis’ daughter first suggested the idea of exploring Donna’s past through flashbacks. Curtis said killing off Donna was “the most meaningful and emotional and impactful way to tell that story” (CBR). Parker added that not every story needs another chapter, and that focusing on Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) gave the sequel its own identity.

Streep’s cameo appearance

• Streep appears briefly in a non‑speaking, spectral role during the finale – a nod to fans without disrupting the new narrative.

The pattern: The creative team turned Streep’s unavailability into a structural strength, using a dual timeline to keep Donna’s spirit alive through young Donna (Lily James) while advancing Sophie’s story.

Was Mamma Mia 3 confirmed?

As of 2024, Universal Pictures has not officially greenlit a third Mamma Mia film. The lack of confirmation hasn’t stopped cast members and executives from fueling speculation.

Officially confirmed projects

• No production announcements have been made. The studio has not committed to a sequel.

Statements from Universal executives

• A Universal executive teased that Meryl Streep could return for a third film, citing her expressed interest despite her usual aversion to sequels (ScreenRant).

Cast enthusiasm

• Amanda Seyfried has publicly stated she is “ready” for a third film, and Lily James echoed interest in reprising her role as young Donna.

The implication: The franchise’s future depends on finding a story that justifies another installment.

Are Mamma Mia 1 and 2 connected?

Yes – Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is a direct sequel set five years after the events of the first film. But its dual timeline structure also makes it a prequel, showing Donna’s youth in 1979 (ScreenRant).

Direct sequel elements

• Sophie is now pregnant and running Hotel Bella Donna, a renovated version of her mother’s taverna.
• The three potential fathers – Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Bill (Stellan Skarsgård), and Harry (Colin Firth) – return to support her.

Prequel flashbacks

• Young Donna (Lily James) meets each of the three men on her travels, mirroring the original’s timeline and explaining how each came into her life.

Returning characters

• Cher joins the cast as Ruby Sheridan, Donna’s mother, bridging the generational gap.

What is the storyline of Mamma Mia 2?

The film uses a clever dual‑narrative structure to tell two interconnected stories: Sophie’s present‑day challenges at the hotel and Donna’s youthful adventures.

Dual timeline structure

• Present day (2018): Sophie reopens Hotel Bella Donna and struggles with her mother’s legacy and her own impending motherhood.
• Flashbacks (1979): Young Donna graduates from Oxford, travels to the Greek islands, and meets the three men who will become Sophie’s potential fathers.

Sophie’s journey

• Sophie decides to carry on her mother’s dream, but the hotel’s opening night is threatened by a storm.
• She ultimately finds strength through her mother’s memories and her own family.

Young Donna’s adventures

• Young Donna is portrayed by Lily James, who captures the character’s effervescence.
• The flashbacks include iconic ABBA songs and show how Donna’s free spirit shaped the woman Sophie remembers.

Why did they write Donna out of Mamma Mia 2?

The decision to kill off Donna between films was not taken lightly. It served both narrative and logistical purposes.

Narrative necessity

• Donna’s death allows Sophie to take center stage and explore her own identity as a mother and hotel owner.
• It also explains why the three fathers reconverge on the island – to support Sophie, not Donna.

Meryl Streep’s unavailability

• Streep had a packed schedule in 2017 and was not available for a full‑time shoot. Rather than recast or write an awkward subplot, the team chose a clean emotional break (CBR).

Honoring the character’s arc

• The flashbacks keep Donna present in spirit, and her memory drives every character’s motivation.

The implication: By killing Donna offscreen, the filmmakers used absence as fuel for emotional depth – a rare risk in franchise filmmaking that paid off critically.

Technical specifications:

Quotes from the cast and crew

“It wasn’t that we didn’t want Meryl – it was that the story demanded a new direction. Killing Donna gave us the most emotional way to explore her past and Sophie’s future.”

– Ol Parker, director, in an interview with CBR

“I’d absolutely be up for another one. There’s so much more story to tell about these characters.”

– Amanda Seyfried, actress (Sophie), speaking to ScreenRant

“The idea of a prequel-sequel came from my daughter. She said, ‘What if we saw young Donna?’ That was the spark.”

– Richard Curtis, co-writer, via CBR

“Not every story needs another chapter. But if we found the right one, I’d be interested.”

– Meryl Streep, as reported by ScreenRant

For Universal, the gamble of making a sequel without its biggest star paid off financially and critically. The next decision – whether to move ahead with a third film – will depend on finding a story that feels as necessary as Donna’s death did. For now, fans can stream the two existing films and speculate alongside the cast.

Related reading: Meryl Streep’s absence in Mamma Mia Here We Go Again · Meryl Streep’s absence in Mamma Mia Here We Go Again

Frequently asked questions