The movie musical, Mamma Mia! was released in 2008, and it’s fair to say it was a smashing success. Ten years later, a sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, was released and that also impressed. Ever since, there has been a willingness and desire for a third movie. Both the 2008 movie and the 2018 sequel featured familiar faces and both never quite resolved a longstanding question. Who is Sophie’s biological father? The 2008 movie introduced us to Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) and the three men from her mother’s past who may be her biological father: Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Harry (Colin Firth), and Bill (Stellan Skarsgård). It ended without a resolution on who the father might be, as the trio decided to share the fatherly role. The 2018 sequel maintains the mystery but could the third film finally solve it? Speaking in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Brosnan, who plays one of Sophie’s possible fathers, Sam Carmichael, says that he knows who her real father is. The actor goes on to add that the third film. Mamma Mia 3 may finally reveal the answer to the longstanding mystery. His comments read, “I think you’ll have to wait for the next movie. I think leave that one right there. I know who it is, but I don’t want to be a killjoy.” Brosnan’s claim that he knows who Sophie’s biological father is points to his own character, Sam. It has long been theorized that Sam is Sophie’s real dad in Mamma Mia!. with the pair’s shared talents a strong factor. Also, given that Donna (Meryl Streep), Sophie’s mother, spent the most time with Sam, it’s far more likely that he is the father. The original movie, Mamma Mia follows Donna and Sophie as they prepare for the latter’s wedding in the Greek islands. However, given that she doesn’t know who her father is, she makes a big play. Sophie secretly invites the three hot men from her mother’s past who are most likely her father: Sam, Harry, and Bill. What follows is a romantic musical vacation full of humorous hijinks. In the sequel, Here We Go Again, follows Sophie, who is preparing for the grand reopening of the Hotel Bella Donna in honor of her recently deceased mother. The film also revealed Sophie had given birth to a son, Donny, named after her mother, Donna.
Will ‘Mamma Mia 3’ Actually Happen?

The question of who Sophie’s father is can’t be answered except a Mamma Mia 3 film actually happens. So, will it? Producer Judy Craymer has, both in June 2020 and October 2023, confirmed that a third movie was in the works. In March 2025, while speaking to Collider’s Christina Radish, franchise star Seyfried revealed her hopes for a threequel:
“I’m 100% optimistic. I think the second one proves that there’s always a need or a desire. I’m holding out hope. I’m not holding my breath for it to happen at any specific point, but I do believe, in my heart of hearts, that we’re all going to band together to make it happen. I do. Because there’s just a desire from us, from the creators too, and when there’s enough of a desire, it usually takes place, especially if it’s so positive. I can’t wait.”
Mamma Mia! is available to stream on Max. Stay with Collider for the latest updates.

Mamma Mia!

Release Date

July 18, 2008

Runtime

108 Minutes

Director

Phyllida Lloyd

Writers

Catherine Johnson

Sequel(s)

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

Source: The Hollywood Reporter