ABBA star opposes ‘Mamma Mia!’ sequel

Swedish songwriter Bjorn Ulvaeus, who helped write the ABBA tunes used in the movie Mamma Mia!, says he’s opposed to a sequel despite the original’s success.

Ulvaeus said while Mamma has become Britain’s highest-grossing film of all time, he opposes his fellow producers’ plan for a follow-up, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.

It wouldn’t work, he said. I don’t think we would do a sequel. We have moved on to other projects now.

An unidentified friend of the 63-year-old Swedish songwriter, whose ABBA songs were part of the original Mamma stage musical, said Ulvaeus is concerned there is no artistic justification for a sequel.

Judy Craymer, who served as a producer on the film, told the British newspaper that Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, who helped create the ABBA hits for Mamma Mia, could be convinced otherwise.

I am sure that Benny and Bjorn would do a sequel, she said. I’m not sure they would want to wait as long, though, to make another one.