12 surprising things y'all probably didn't know nigh the 'Mamma Mia' movies

mamma mia 2

"Mamma Mia" is a beloved franchise.
Universal Pictures
  • "Mamma Mia" and its sequel "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Once 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 home.
  • Lily James had to go on vocal remainder for a week before filming "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again."
  • Visit Insider'southward homepage for more stories.

The whole franchise started with a serendipitous car ride, and information technology was a stage musical showtime.

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

Producer Judy Craymer was 25 years old when she was asked to choice up ABBA popular star Björn Ulvaeus from the airdrome.

Co-ordinate to Vanity Fair, the friendship betwixt Craymer, Ulvaeus, and another ABBA member, Benny Andersson, began during that auto ride. Subsequently, Craymer pitched them the thought for an ABBA stage musical, which somewhen became "Mamma Mia."

The musical premiered in London's Westward End in 1999 and went on to open on Broadway in 2001. The testify saw early success before information technology was adapted into the film we know and love today.

Phyllida Lloyd directed both the stage musical and the kickoff film.

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 directly the first film likewise.

The joy during the "Super Trouper" number at the stop of the 2d film was 100% accurate.

The cast said they had a nifty time filming "Super Trouper."
Universal Pictures

Screenwriter and director for "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Once more" 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's all real. Nosotros played the song loudly and sent them off to different corners … They simply had an absolute 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 wife, Rita Wilson, were executive producers of both "Mamma Mia" and "Mamma Mia! Here Nosotros Go Again."

Meryl Streep really did the splits in the outset film.

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

Meryl Streep said that it was "instinct" that allowed her to practise splits in the kickoff film, although she's not sure she could replicate it now.

"I just did the splits on instinct. That's what ever happens with my acting. As an thespian, you're not immune to think," Streep told The Guardian in 2008. "I couldn't practice the splits for you right now."

Cher turned down a role in the starting time flick.

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

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

Craymer told Vanity Off-white in 2018 that Lloyd originally wanted Cher to play Tanya, but she passed on the office.

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

Tony-winner Christine Baranski was eventually cast as Tanya.

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

Cher played Donna'due south female parent and Sophie's grandmother in the film.
Universal Pictures

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

The head of Universal Pictures too used to be her agent, so when he chosen her to tell her about the part, he hung upward before she could say no.

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

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

In a 2008 interview with Good Housekeeping, Pierce Brosnan said when he showtime tried out singing for his family, "even 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.

Only after practicing all the fourth dimension, Brosnan said he got amend.

"At present my family seems to think I'k doing all correct. Merely information technology'due south possible they're being nice. 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 give her vocalism a break.
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In a 2018 interview with Build Series, Lily James said she had to salvage her voice to prep for the role of young Donna since she had just come up off a press tour for the motion-picture show "Baby Commuter."

"All I'd done is talk for and so long and my vocalisation was shot to hell it was but croaky and disgusting," she said. "And so, it was me being really neurotic, as usual, but information technology was too me existence told by the doctor I had to shut upwards … I just didn't talk for a week."

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

Lily James in "Mamma Mia! Here We Get Again."
Universal Pictures

In "Mamma Mia! Hither Nosotros Go Again," James had the hard task of playing immature Donna — the young-developed version of Streep's role from the start motion picture.

She told Attraction in 2018 that she watched the first moving picture over and once more to prepare for the role. Past the fourth dimension they started filming the sequel, James knew every line from the original.

"Every moment of that film I know by heart," she said. "I think I could mimic [Meryl Streep] pretty well, but then in the moment, when yous're there on ready with the cameras rolling and you lot've got another actor in forepart of you ... the affair I like virtually acting is fully surrendering to that moment and not trying to control what happens. And so I call back I just forgot to do anything."

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