Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! Universal plans musical sequel for 2018 release

Like the first film, which hit the box office in 2008, the sequel will also feature Abba songs.

Mamma Mia! movie — The sequel to Mamma Mia! is slated for release on 20 July, 2018 Universal Pictures

Universal thinks it's time for more Abba! The studio has confirmed a sequel to the 2008 musical Mamma Mia! and already signed on a director for the project.

According to Deadline, the film titled Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! will be written and directed by The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel scribe Ol Parker. It has also been given a tentative release date of 20 July, 2018.

The previous film grossed $609.8m (£467m) at the worldwide box office and Universal is keen to repeat that success. The original cast Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters and Christine Baranski and the star-studded group are expected to return for the sequel.

Variety reported that while it is not confirmed what the focus of the project will be, sources hinted it could look at a flashback to when Streep, Firth, and Brosnan's characters were young and first met on the Greek island of Kalokairi.

The studio confirmed that like the 2008 hit, the sequel will also feature Abba songs and include some of the 1970s group's lesser known numbers.

Littlestar's Judy Craymer and Playtone's Gary Goetzman will return to produce the film while Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus who worked on the original, will provide music and lyrics and serve as executive producers.