Here'south a movie that should Ring Band a bell.

Ten years after Mamma Mia! became a worldwide hit, its cast are dorsum – and it looks similar the history volume on the shelf really is repeating itself.

Non only is Mamma Mia! Here Nosotros Go Once more set to be some other summer boom, merely this time circular we find Donna's daughter Sophie returning home to face up life as a single mum, just equally her mum had before her.

And with the gang all back together – including Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth – today we reveal some of the secrets behind the latest ABBA-inspired picture show.

The pic is in the mould of a prequel as information technology looks at the past of Streep'southward character (

Image:

Universal Pictures)

They include how executives persuaded superstar Cher to appear in the movie – and how she felt about playing the mum of someone simply three years younger than her.

How Lily James reacted when she met idol Meryl Streep for the outset fourth dimension… and what sent Dominic Cooper into hysterics on set.

One question on the lips of many fans has been whether fundamental character Donna – played by Streep – is all the same alive in the sequel.

Fears surged when she was left out of the first trailer, and her on-screen pals referred to her only in the past tense.

The second moving picture promises merely every bit much escapist fun as the first delivered (

Image:

Universal Pictures)

The follow-upwardly trailer did trivial to ease fans' worries, equally Streep was barely present and had no lines.

But movie bosses are taking a chance on eager early filmgoers keeping the secret under wraps.

Lily James – who plays Donna in flashbacks of her early life – told 1 interviewer: "The story is and so brilliant and people are going to love it so much that I don't want to spoil anything."

In the sequel Donna's daughter Sophie, played by Seyfried, returns dwelling pregnant and unmarried.

Her mum'south pals Rosie and Tanya tell her in flashbacks how Donna handled the aforementioned state of affairs, uncertain if the infant's male parent was Sam, Harry or Pecker.

The three middle-aged hunks Firth, Skarsgard and Brosnan are dorsum in the 2d movie (

Epitome:

Universal Pictures)

Julie Walters, who returns as Rosie, admits she had her doubts about a sequel.

The 68-twelvemonth-former comedy legend revealed: "I couldn't see how it could piece of work and what they could do with united states of america.

"My first reaction was, 'Oh God no, it's going to be awful'.

"Just the script was so expert. I recollect it's fantastic. Information technology's meliorate than the first i."

The new instalment is expected to smash the 2008 worldwide box function of £466million – for a picture that toll £28million to brand.

The original was the yr'due south top movie in 15 countries and has been seen by 60million people.

While Seyfried, 32, plays Donna's daughter Sophie in the reboot, Streep'southward mum is played by a newcomer to the saga, Cher.

Cher has a role in the movie equally the mother of Lily James/Meryl Streep's character (

Image:

Universal Pictures)

The music icon – seen in trailers singing ABBA hit Fernando – told how she did not fifty-fifty accept to audience.

She said: "My agent called and said, 'Yous're in the new Mamma Mia film!', and then hung up. I didn't have much choice…"

Cher, 72, also laughs most playing 69-twelvemonth-old Streep's mother.

She said: "I am older than her – by [less than] iv years. I said, 'That'south absolutely fine, that's cool'."

But the pocket-size age gap was non the simply thing that had the stars in fits of laughter.

Dominic Cooper, 40 – back once again as Sophie'southward husband Sky – told how some of the dance moves demanded past West Stop choreographer Anthony Van Laast left them in stitches.

Dungaree-clad Meryl Streep returns for the sequel (

Epitome:

Universal Pictures)

He said: "It was hilarious, information technology was like a French and Saunders transport-upward of the original. We were all 10 years older… I used to accept the mick out of Anthony because he'd say, 'Merely throw your arms up in the air'.

"I was similar, 'Are you serious, is that how you lot are going to choreograph this?'.

"But really, if you're going to get Pierce or Colin to dance similar that information technology would be awful to choreograph them. The more loose and chaotic it is, the better."

Some other cast fellow member who had trouble controlling themselves – for a different reason – was Downton Abbey favourite Lily James.

Amanda Seyfried singing with Julie Walters and Christine Baranski (

Prototype:

Universal Pictures)

Lily, a Mamma Mia! newcomer, was overcome with emotion at meeting her idol Meryl Streep.

She said: "Meryl was singing this song in a chapel, information technology was emotional. I was outside knowing I was about to see her… and crying.

"And it was similar, 'Agree information technology together, Lily!'. Information technology was too much."

Lily, 29 – who played Cinderella in the 2015 Kenneth Branagh film – said the run a risk to work with Streep was a huge allure.

She said: "I thought, what better opportunity will I ever have to written report Meryl? What Meryl does is unlearnable."

Siegfried's grapheme falls pregnant in this new installment (

Image:

Universal Pictures)

And she says doing the motion picture as well helped her rediscover her beloved for singing.

She explained: "I think interim sort of took over – and I also screwed my voice. I kept losing it from stress. It started in Cinderella.

"It was wonderful to embrace information technology again." With the hits of ABBA over again providing the film'southward soundtrack, singing was certainly the name of the game.

Alongside favourites including Waterloo, Mamma Mia! and Dancing Queen are lesser-known songs such as When I Kissed The Teacher and Kisses of Burn down.

Cher and Andy Garcia'south version of Fernando has already been released as a unmarried.

And with ABBA's Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid revealing in April they have made two new songs together – their first in 35 years – it looks like it really is the year for fans to say, Cheers for the Music.

  • Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is in cinemas from July 20