That was certainly the implication in the early trailers, with Donna only referred to in the past tense.
The only sightings of her were taken from the first film – sparking worry that she perhaps wouldn’t be involved at all.
But Christine Baranski, who stars in the film, appeared to confirm that Donna will be very much present and correct.
In a recent interview on US TV, she was recalling a scene they shot for the musical last year.
“We just sat together [with Cher] on the set. For a few days, we were shooting a scene in a chapel,” she said on Live With Kelly and Ryan.
“It was Meryl singing with Amanda Seyfried, and there was just Cher hanging out with the coffee cups!”
Amanda Seyfried had also recently hinted that Donna won’t be dead – or at least won’t appear in any more flashback scenes.
“You do see her. She’s, Meryl is very much a part of this movie,” she insisted.
“No, there are absolutely no flashbacks. No, because all the ‘flashbacks’ are of Lily [James] playing Donna.
“So it’s a prequel and a sequel, and so you see Meryl is very much a part of it.”
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is out on July 27.