Wednesday, September 13, 2023

An oral history of "Mamma Mia!"

In honor of the fifteen-year anniversary of its theatrical release, Vogue has posted an oral history of Mamma Mia! It is very long and detailed so I haven't read all of it, but it popped up because of Meryl being quoted in it saying that she'd be up for a part three. The possibility of Mamma Mia! becoming a trilogy has been around for a while. And I seem to remember having read that Meryl told producer Judy Craymer something to the effect that if the script were right, she'd be down: 

I’m up for anything. I’ll have to schedule a knee scoping before we film, but if there’s an idea that excites me, I’m totally there. I told Judy if she could figure out a way to reincarnate Donna, I’m into that. Or it could be like in one of those soap operas where Donna comes back and reveals it was really her twin sister that died. 

As much as I like seeing Meryl in new material, I would not be at all sad if this never came to light. At least if it did, it might be more than a cameo for her, and it would probably make a lot of money. But as Meryl pushes 75, I'm getting a bit more greedy in my interests for her projects. The options will be few for her demographic and I personally would prefer to see her in more typical "Meryl" roles, meaning things or characters that are tricky, complicated, and dramatic. I probably sound like a broken record. Alas, beggars can't be choosers, and anything that opens the door for Meryl getting offered said projects is a good thing. As a quick aside, one thing I found interesting in the attached article was that Meryl was the first choice for the role of Donna from the start. I thought I had read that Nicole Kidman may have been in the running or maybe even offered the role, but Meryl was actually whom Caymer and director Phyllida Lloyd had originally envisioned. And they were apparently happily surprised when she agreed to star!




15 comments:

  1. Yes!,Yes! Meryl and Mamma Mia! Can t believe that.

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  2. Nyad is getting generally strong reviews. Another coulda been!

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    1. OMG I know! Although the script we read is by a different writer than the Bening film.

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    2. And Foster is not the director. We talk about another movie. It s like The Good house project, everything was changed and the movie was a failure.

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    3. Was Foster ever going to direct, or was that just something I had may have suggested that I thought would be cool to see happen? And while The Good House was far from a spectacular film, it wasn't universally panned, even if it was seen by very few people. I of course still wonder what the finish product would've looked like for that film had Meryl and DeNiro stayed on with whatever script Michael Cunningham had completed (assuming he did complete one). We never knew who was going to direct that version either. Could've been something special, and I maintain that Hildy Good is a wonderful character.

      It remains to be seen if Nyad suffers the same fate, but I already think it's going to be a much different result that The Good House. Bening and Foster are getting raves and the film is receiving generally good reviews as well.

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  3. I can't help but feel resigned and sad after reading the news about her interest in MM3. I suspect at her age she may just want to do something light and fun like MM3 and OMITB Season3. I hope I'm wrong though. Growing up in the 80s, it was sheer thrill to see her release one monumental performance after another (Sophie, Silkwood, Cry in the dark, plenty, ironweed, out of africa, etc). But at least I'm glad to have two other favourite actresses (Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton) who are doing the best work in their careers so far, Cate especially.

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    1. Both are 15 years younger. Both are not super stars . So they can do everything ....

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    2. Both are not super stars? To each his own but Cate is already a legend in the making like Meryl.

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    3. She's allowed to do whatever she wants and it's not really fair to act like it's somehow hurting her career when it isn't.

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    4. It's just boring, EvaSofie. That's what's unpleasant about it. We're fans. We want to see her in things that made us fans of her in the first place. Mamma Mia! 3 does not seem like it would be in that category by a long shot.

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  4. I'm very surprised for Meryl's words about MM3.
    I thought that she closed the door definitely with her cameo on MM2. Now seems that she wants more time on screen as Donna, not only a cameo.
    Meryl loves Mamma Mia and I think that all the cast have a special place for this movie on their hearts. Their time in Greece was wonderful.
    I'm fan of Meryl since Mamma Mia and I celebrate all the things that relations her with this film. Only I hope that the third part will be better than the second. I don't need more drama. Sorry for my English.

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  5. You are abosolutely right!!

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  6. I really hope it happens but I understand that Julie Walters is not in the best of health. Wishing her a full recovery. It would be sad if not everyone returned!

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  7. If we just slowly back away from this terrible plan, it won’t happen.

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