Mamma Mia! is an upcoming film adaptation of the West End musical of the same name based on the songs of pop group ABBA. The title of the film is taken from the group’s 1975 chart-topper “Mamma Mia”. It will be produced by Universal Pictures in partnership with Playtone and Littlestar. It is slated for a release date of July 18, 2008 in the United States and November 28, 2008 in the United Kingdom.

Academy Award winner Meryl Streep will head the cast of the film, playing the role of single mother Donna Sheridan. Pierce Brosnan will play Sam, one of Donna’s daughter Sophie’s three possible fathers. Sophie will be played by Amanda Seyfried.

Mamma Mia! employs the hit songs of famed pop group ABBA to tell the story of Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried), a young girl who hopes to discover the identity of her father. On the eve of her wedding to Sky (Dominic Cooper), she brings three men, Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Bill (Stellan Skarsgård) and Harry (Colin Firth), from her mother Donna’s (Meryl Streep) past back to the Greek island they visited over two decades ago.

The picture is being filmed at several locations, including London, Venice, Morocco, Damouchari a seaside hamlet in the Pelion area of Greece, Skopelos island and Skiathos island. Filming on Skiathos island began August 29th to 30th in the harbour, and in the bell tower for the wedding 30th to the 3rd September. Filming on Skopelos island will begin on September 3rd and ends on the at the end of September. A press office for the film has been setup on Skopelos island and film preparations have begun.

Production offices for the film were based at Pinewood Studios and although set on a Greek island much was filmed on the 007 stage at Pinewood Studios where lighting and temperature could be controlled. The Mamma Mia trailer was released the week of December 10th, first on Entertainment Tonight, then released to the internet.

It has been suggested that the filmmakers have removed “Thank You For The Music”, “Under Attack” and “Knowing Me, Knowing You” from the movie. However, it is reported that “When All Is Said And Done”, the lead single in North America from ABBA’s 1981 and final studio album, The Visitors, will be included in the film as a new song not present in the stage musical. “When All Is Said And Done” was ABBA’s last top 30 hit in the United States.