Stellan Skarsgård hints Meryl Streep could return for ‘Mamma Mia’ 3

Stellan Skarsgård fuels buzz around ‘Mamma Mia’ 3, suggesting Meryl Streep might return despite Donna’s death in the

Stellan Skarsgård has sent Mamma Mia! fans into a fresh wave of excitement, hinting that Meryl Streep could return for the long‑teased third instalment of the beloved musical franchise even though her character was written off in the previous film. The actor’s playful remarks backstage at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards have ignited chatter online about how Streep might be brought back for the next chapter of the series.

Speaking to Us Weekly, Skarsgård, who played Bill in the films, emphasised Hollywood’s knack for surprising twists, quipping, “Everybody can be brought back in the movies. In the movies, it’s fantastic!” before adding with a laugh, “She’s not dead, you know! Meryl Streep is not dead!” His comments quickly spread across social media, where fans began speculating about how the iconic Donna Sheridan might be written into a Mamma Mia 3 narrative.

Streep’s character was killed off before the events of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again in 2018, although she did appear briefly in dream and flashback sequences. The suggestion that she could return in a major way has excited longtime fans of the franchise, with many pointing out that her presence was key to the original films’ emotional core.

Talk of a third film has been building for years, with producer Judy Craymer previously confirming that development was underway and Mamma Mia! stars such as Amanda Seyfried signalling their enthusiasm for continuing the story. Skarsgård’s remarks at the Globes added fuel to the discussion, leading to scores of online threads debating whether Streep would appear as a ghost, in flashbacks, or through some clever narrative device.

Online reaction has been immediate and varied. Fans have joked about Hollywood’s “necromancy” skills and floated theories about how the beloved matriarch might return, from spiritual cameos to creative flashback sequences that tie into ABBA’s catalogue of hits. Others have speculated that even if Streep’s character doesn’t return physically, her influence could shape the new film’s emotional throughline.

There’s no official confirmation yet on Mamma Mia 3’s plot or casting, but Skarsgård’s comments have ensured the conversation won’t die down any time soon.