At a Glance
- Stellan Skarsgård confirmed “a lot of people are working on” resurrecting Meryl Streep’s Donna for Mamma Mia 3
- Skarsgård won the January 11, 2026 Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in Sentimental Value
- Producer Judy Craymer says a completed script exists but the film has not been green-lit
- Why it matters: Fans have waited eight years for the next installment of the $600 million-grossing franchise
Stellan Skarsgård used his backstage moment at the 2026 Golden Globes to fuel hope for Mamma Mia 3, telling reporters that teams are actively plotting how to bring Meryl Streep’s Donna Sheridan back from the dead.
Donna’s Return in Motion
Skarsgård, 74, fielded the franchise question minutes after accepting the Best Supporting Actor trophy. When asked whether Donna could reappear, he answered:
> “She can be brought back from the dead – everybody can be brought back from the dead in the movies – and in the movies, she’s fantastic.”
He added:
> “A lot of people are working on it, to bring her back.”
The Swedish actor played sailor Bill Anderson-one of Donna’s three former lovers-in both the 2008 original and the 2018 prequel-sequel, giving him direct insight into development chatter.
Where the Story Left Donna
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again revealed that Donna died off-screen from an unspecified illness, a narrative choice that allowed Amanda Seyfried’s Sophie to take center stage. The device also let Streep cameo briefly as Donna’s spirit, leaving the door open for further appearances.
Script Exists, Studio Silent
Producer Judy Craymer told Deadline in May 2025:
> “Well, we know what we want to do with the movie, and it will happen.”
She confirmed a finished screenplay, yet Universal has issued no green-light announcement, start date, or casting confirmations.
Star Enthusiasm
Streep, 76, has repeatedly signaled willingness to return. In Vogue‘s 2023 “Oral History of Mamma Mia!” she joked:
> “If there’s an idea that excites me, I’m totally there. I told Judy if she could figure out a way to reincarnate Donna, I’m into that. Or it could be like in one of those soap operas where Donna comes back and reveals it was really her twin sister that died. We may have to call it Grand-Mamma Mia! by the time we make it!”
Amanda Seyfried, 40, told News Of Losangeles in December:
> “I have no idea where the story is going to go, but I know there’s going to be a lot of singing and dancing. I’m going to keep campaigning for that movie until I’m blue in the face.”
Box-Office Incentive
The first two films combined for roughly $600 million worldwide, and ABBA’s catalogue remains popular on streaming. A third installment would arrive as movie-musical demand stays strong, though no release window has been floated.
Key Takeaways
- Donna’s on-screen resurrection is being “worked on” by multiple creatives, according to Skarsgård
- A script is complete, but Universal has yet to approve production
- Streep and Seyfried have publicly committed to return, pending a compelling story
- No casting calls, filming dates, or official titles have been announced
