Is Mamma Mia 3 on the horizon for the stars?

Producer Judy Craymer has been discussing the idea of creating Mamma Mia 3 for almost five years now. This comes after the immense success of the first two films released in 2008 and 2018, both of which were huge hits, grossing over a billion dollars.

From the beginning, Craymer envisioned the movies as a trilogy, and it seems like her vision might just come to fruition. It appears that they are very close to getting the green light for the third installment, with approval from Abba, a solid storyline that Universal is on board with, and most of the main actors agreeing to return for the project.

A source said: ‘There are two principals who are sticking, but otherwise we are ready to go ahead.’

There are rumors suggesting that the third movie could feature new music from Abba. This speculation stems from Abba’s recent album release in 2021 named Voyage, which includes the popular single I Still Have Faith In You.

The jukebox romcom Mamma Mia! was directed by Phyllida Lloyd and based on the 1999 stage musical of the same name, which was Judy Craymer’s brainchild.

The plot was about a bride-to-be (Amanda Seyfried) who invited her three possible dads (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard) to her wedding. Her mother Donna (Meryl Streep), a singer-turned-hotel owner, was joined by Christine Baranski and Julie Walters as her former bandmates.

Filmed on the Greek island of Skopelos, it was a huge hit, grossing $611 million on a $52 million budget. The cast returned for Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, with Lily James playing a young Donna.

In an interview in 2023, Craymer said: ‘I’m sure the third movie will happen. I’m in the privileged position that I have Universal Studios wanting to do it. And I have a storyline. Bjorn and Benny always take a certain amount of convincing. But they

had Abba Voyage and then they wanted a rest from Abba stuff. But it will happen.’

Craymer seems to have spent last summer sounding out all the key cast, including Brosnan, Streep and Baranski. Streep, who appeared as a ghost in the 2018 film, said in Cannes in May that she was meeting ‘soon’ to discuss ideas with the producer.

Brosnan told The Hollywood Reporter in November: ‘I would definitely welcome the opportunity to go back into the world of Mamma Mia!, for sure.’

The only voice of caution is Seyfried, who told Vogue magazine last year: ‘Nobody is saying no – but nobody is saying yes either. The powers that be probably can’t afford us, to be honest. I hate to say it, because would I do Mamma Mia 3 for free? Of course I would. But that’s not the business we’re in. What’s fair is fair, and I feel a third film is gonna come down to something stupid like whether or not Universal wants to pay the money.’

Extreme dad dancing

The Full Monty was a feelgood smash hit in 1997 – but star Mark Addy found a recent re-watch traumatising, because he was in the company of his three grown-up children.

‘The kids viewed it through their fingers and clearly thought it was a horror show unfolding before them, with their dad taking his clothes off.

‘They got it in the end, I think, but it wasn’t an easy watch for any of us!’

Addy remains fully dressed as tough guy David Coake in the new, second series of Prime’s eerie thriller The Rig. But he’s reconciled to the fact he’ll never escape the movie.

‘It’s 28 years, but I still get people spotting me at the supermarket, saying, ‘I didn’t recognise you with your clothes on.’ ‘

Mysterious Melania is ready for her close up

Cameras are rolling on a docufilm about Melania Trump, the President-elect’s enigmatic wife.

There are suggestions the First Lady-in-waiting is going to receive a large chunk of the $40 million production costs, making the, as yet untitled, film a huge payday for her (she’s not just the star turn; but also an executive producer).

The Slovenian former model – born Melanija Knavs – is Trump’s third wife, the mother of his son Baron, and a figure of some fascination, not least because she seems to lead a life semi-detached from her husband.

The film is being licensed to Prime Video, which promises an ‘unprecedented behind-the-scenes look’ at her life. A spokesman said: ‘Prime Video will be sharing more details as filming progresses and release plans are finalised. We are excited to share this unique story with our millions of customers.’

It should come out towards the end of this year.

The film is directed by Brett Ratner, who has not worked in Hollywood since six women accused him of sexual misconduct in a ‘Me Too’ expose. He denied the claims.

It will get a run in cinemas and then go to Prime Video.

Confessions of the Bafta hot shots

The up-and-coming actors on Bafta’s Rising Star shortlist, announced this week, have been sharing stories of their most embarrassing experiences in the business so far.

Marisa Abela, nominated for her role as Amy Winehouse in the film Amy, is mortified by the memory of a self-taped audition for a biscuit advert.

She said: ‘I did a self-tape during Covid for an Italian biscuit company. My agents said, ‘It’s Covid – just do it!’ I sat at home and filmed myself eating ten biscuits.’ 

David Jonsson, who was nominated for his role as the android Andy in Alien: Romulus, said: ‘I did a film called Rye Lane and it was [the director] Raine Allen -Miller’s first movie. She was incredibly nervous.

‘One of my favourite notes from her was: “Can you do it better?” I was like, “Oh perfect, now I know exactly what you mean.” ‘

The Rising Star will be announced at the Bafta Film Awards on February 16 and is chosen by public vote.

The next Bond 

A rush of bets has been placed on Josh O’Connor as the next Bond. O’Connor, who won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his portrayal of Prince Charles in The Crown, was sensational – and sexy – in Challengers opposite Zendaya. 

Now, with appalling reviews and worse box office for former Bond fave Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Kraven, he is edging ahead in the race to be the next 007. 

Bookies William Hill have him at 8/11, followed by Theo James, then Aaron T-J.

Priyanka: I’d like to thank you, and you… but not you

There’s often a sense of relief when filming wraps – and it seems that might have been particularly true in the case of the second series of Prime Video’s big budget spy series Citadel, which stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden.

The show wrapped just before Christmas and Chopra Jonas happily shared a post which ran: ‘I wrapped Citadel season 2!! This year has been a whirlwind for me, but to be surrounded by so much love and support makes everything easier.’

Rather surprisingly, her post found no space to mention co-star Madden, who plays spy Mason Kane, a former lover of Chopra Jonas’s character Nadia Sinh.

In fact Madden, who plays a super spy whose memory was wiped but returns to the espionage business, wasn’t pictured or tagged in any of the images on the post.

I’m told: ‘The pair just didn’t click on set in the first series, and things got worse to the point of being tricky during the publicity tour. It was common knowledge.’

Madden has only once tagged his co-star on Instagram – in April last year to publicise the series start date.

He posted a picture of himself alone in a hotel in Mumbai where they were launching the show, followed by a picture of himself on a chatshow with co-star Stanley Tucci. Nothing about Priyanka.

This time around, Chopra Jonas pictures herself beaming and embracing co-stars Anisha Gibbs and Carla Jean Heron… but no sign of Madden. She also posts footage of Stanley Tucci, making cocktails for her and friends in his trailer – again, Madden is absent.

The spy series was slow to pick up in the West but was a huge success in India due to Chopra Jonas’s popularity.

Now though, it is one of the jewels in Prime Video’s crown, and seems to be regarded by boss Jennifer Salke as an alternative Bond franchise – handy, since the strains in her relationship with Eon, who make Bond, have resulted in a hiatus in the Bond universe which shows no signs of ending yet.

Prime Video has recently launched two spin-offs, Citadels: Honey Bunny (set in India) and Diana (set in Italy).

Nick Park: Mice ate my rocket ship! 

Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park has made films with his famous dog character, chickens, sheep and an evil penguin. 

But it’s mice that proved the downfall of one of his best known creations: the rocket ship which featured in his first Wallace & Gromit film, A Grand Day Out, in 1989. 

Park said: ‘I did have a section of that rocket for close-ups. I kept it in my attic for a while and forgot it was there. [When] I found it, mice had eaten off all the rivets, because they were made of split peas. They’d eaten through the enamel paint, and eaten all the rivets off.’

Good news for Kevin Costner

Some good news at last for Kevin Costner. His ill-fated cowboy epic, Horizon Part 1, which did so badly at cinemas that plans to release Part II were yanked, is a hit on Netflix.

The three hours and one minute movie was No 7 globally in its first week on the streamer and No 3 in the US, garnering 4 million views in all. 

Despite a big premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last spring, it took $31 million globally on a $100 million budget. 

Painfully, $38 million of that came from Costner’s own pocket.

Probably even more painfully, last year he got divorced from his wife Christine Baumgartner.

No rest for the Wicked team…

Wicked is going to start campaigning – hard – for the Oscars after its disappointing night at the Golden Globes.

Cynthia Erivo lost out to Demi Moore, Ariana Grande lost out to Zoe Saldana, and the movie was bested by Emilia Perez, which now goes into the Oscars race neck-and-neck with The Brutalist.

Voting for Oscar nominations opened on Wednesday, and will be announced on January 19 (that date has been shoved back by two days, because of the LA wildfires). 

It’s a moot point as to whether the Globes still matter – and what they reflect – after the whole organisation was bought and dismantled by billionaire Todd Boehly.

In the old days, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (made up of international journalists) voted, and money was raised for charity. 

Now the event is run for profit and voters are paid by Boehly who, in addition to Chelsea Football Club, owns all of the trade press – Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline – and has a stake in the super-indie film production company A24 –which, coincidentally, won best picture and best actor this year for The Brutalist and Adrien Brody.