Stellan Skarsgård Shares Thoughts on Meryl Streep’s Character Donna Returning in Mamma Mia 3

Stellan Skarsgård in 2026; Meryl Streep in 2025.
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Stellan Skarsgård Hints at Meryl Streep’s Return in Mamma Mia 3

At the 2026 Golden Globes, Stellan Skarsgård sparked excitement among fans by discussing Meryl Streep’s character, Donna, from the Mamma Mia! franchise. Skarsgård revealed that "a lot of people are working on" the possibility of bringing Donna back for a third installment of the beloved musical.

Having portrayed Donna’s former love interest Bill in both the original 2008 film and its prequel-sequel in 2018, Skarsgård’s comments provide a tantalizing glimpse into the future of the Mamma Mia! series.

After winning the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in Sentimental Value at the Golden Globes on January 11, Skarsgård addressed the media about the potential resurrection of Streep’s character. “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,” said the 74-year-old actor, expressing optimism about the project.

From left: Pierce Brosnan, Meryl Streep, Stellan Skarsgård, and Colin Firth in Mamma Mia! (2008).

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In Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, which acts as both a prequel and sequel, Donna’s character dies off-screen, creating a sense of finality that fans have grappled with. However, Skarsgård’s remarks have reignited discussions about possible plot twists. He noted, "A lot of people are working on it, to bring her back."

Stellan Skarsgård wins at the Golden Globes on January 11, 2026.

Kevork Djansezian/CBS via Getty

Producer Judy Craymer confirmed that a script for Mamma Mia 3 has been completed, though the project has yet to be publicly greenlit. "We know what we want to do with the movie, and it will happen," she stated earlier this year while mentioning potential cast additions.

Meryl Streep has also expressed a desire to return to the franchise. In a 2023 oral history published by Vogue, the actress stated, “If there’s an idea that excites me, I’m totally there." She further jested about the possibility of reincarnating her character or introducing a twin sister plot twist, humorously suggesting they might have to call it Grand-Mamma Mia!.

Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried in Mamma Mia! (2008).

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Amanda Seyfried, who plays Donna’s daughter Sophie, is also enthusiastic about returning. In a recent interview, she shared her excitement, saying, “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.” Seyfried expressed her commitment to the franchise, stating, "I’m going to keep campaigning for that movie until I’m blue in the face."