12 surprising things you probably didn't know about the 'Mamma Mia' movies

mamma mia 2

"Mamma Mia" is a dear franchise.
Universal Pictures
  • "Mamma Mia" and its sequel "Mamma Mia! Here Nosotros Go Again" are popular films featuring ABBA's music.
  • Judy Craymer pitched the film idea to ABBA star Björn Ulvaeus when she was giving him a ride abode.
  • Lily James had to go on vocal residuum for a week earlier filming "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again."
  • Visit Insider'southward homepage for more than stories.

The whole franchise started with a serendipitous auto ride, and it was a phase musical commencement.

Björn Ulvaeus, Judy Craymer, and Benny Andersson became friends afterwards the car ride.
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images

Producer Judy Craymer was 25 years old when she was asked to pick up ABBA pop star Björn Ulvaeus from the airport.

According to Vanity Off-white, the friendship betwixt Craymer, Ulvaeus, and another ABBA member, Benny Andersson, began during that motorcar ride. After, Craymer pitched them the idea for an ABBA phase musical, which eventually became "Mamma Mia."

The musical premiered in London'due south West End in 1999 and went on to open on Broadway in 2001. The show saw early success before it was adapted into the movie we know and beloved today.

Phyllida Lloyd directed both the stage musical and the commencement movie.

Phyllida Lloyd directed "Mamma Mia."
Yuriko Nakao/Reuters

Phyllida Lloyd directed the "Mamma Mia" stage musical, and since the show was such a success, they hired her to direct the first movie every bit well.

The joy during the "Super Trouper" number at the end of the second picture show was 100% authentic.

The bandage said they had a swell time filming "Super Trouper."
Universal Pictures

Screenwriter and director for "Mamma Mia! Here Nosotros Get Once again" Ol Parker told Awards Daily in 2018 that the "Super Trouper" scene looks really fun because it was.

"When they're dancing in 'Super Trouper,' that'south all existent. We played the vocal loudly and sent them off to dissimilar corners … They just had an accented hoot," Parker said.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were executive producers for both films.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were involved in the franchise.
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Tom Hanks and his married woman, Rita Wilson, were executive producers of both "Mamma Mia" and "Mamma Mia! Hither We Go Once more."

Meryl Streep really did the splits in the first film.

Meryl Streep didn't recollect before doing the splits.
Universal Pictures

Meryl Streep said that it was "instinct" that immune her to practice splits in the commencement film, although she's not sure she could replicate information technology now.

"I just did the splits on instinct. That's what ever happens with my interim. As an histrion, y'all're not allowed to think," Streep told The Guardian in 2008. "I couldn't do the splits for you right now."

Cher turned down a function in the first film.

Casting directors wanted Cher to play Tanya.
Eric McCandless / Correspondent / Getty Images

Ruby Sheridan wasn't the first "Mamma Mia" role that Cher was considered for.

Craymer told Vanity Fair in 2018 that Lloyd originally wanted Cher to play Tanya, but she passed on the function.

"I think she felt that the Tanya grapheme was probably too close to her," Craymer said

Tony-winner Christine Baranski was eventually cast as Tanya.

Cher was handpicked for the function of Sophie'south grandmother, and the head of Universal Pictures wouldn't take no for an answer.

Cher played Donna's female parent and Sophie'southward grandmother in the moving-picture show.
Universal Pictures

Cher told Sky News in 2018 that she didn't have much of a choice when it came to playing Carmine Sheridan in the sequel.

The head of Universal Pictures also used to be her agent, so when he called her to tell her virtually the part, he hung upwardly before she could say no.

Pierce Brosnan's family (and housekeeper) weren't too cracking on his singing voice at first.

Pierce Brosnan'southward family wasn't excited to hear him sing.
Universal Pictures

In a 2008 interview with Skillful Housekeeping, Pierce Brosnan said when he kickoff tried out singing for his family, "fifty-fifty the housekeeper cringed."

"They kept their opinions to themselves for a while, though. They didn't want me to be discouraged," he told the publication.

But later on practicing all the time, Brosnan said he got better.

"Now my family seems to think I'thousand doing all right. Merely it's possible they're being dainty. They're probably yet cringing," he said.

To prepare for filming the "Mamma Mia" sequel, Lily James didn't talk for a week.

Lily James had to requite her voice a break.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

In a 2018 interview with Build Series, Lily James said she had to relieve her phonation to prep for the function of immature Donna since she had just come off a printing tour for the motion-picture show "Babe Driver."

"All I'd washed is talk for so long and my vocalization was shot to hell it was simply croaky and icky," she said. "So, it was me existence really neurotic, as usual, simply it was also me being told past the physician I had to close up … I simply didn't talk for a week."

James watched the first motion picture "hundreds of times" to prepare for the role of Donna.

Lily James in "Mamma Mia! Hither We Become Again."
Universal Pictures

In "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again," James had the difficult task of playing young Donna — the young-developed version of Streep's role from the first film.

She told Allure in 2018 that she watched the starting time film over and over again to prepare for the role. By the time they started filming the sequel, James knew every line from the original.

"Every moment of that picture I know past heart," she said. "I call up I could mimic [Meryl Streep] pretty well, but then in the moment, when you're at that place on set with the cameras rolling and yous've got another actor in forepart of you ... the affair I like about acting is fully surrendering to that moment and not trying to control what happens. Then I call back I merely forgot to practise annihilation."

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