The trailers for Mamma Ma remained elusive as to whether or not Donna was alive to see her daughter through her pregnancy.
The crux of Mamma Mia 2 seemed to play into the idea that Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) was going at it alone, on the very island where her mother made a life for herself.
And yet Meryl Streep’s inclusion in the soundtrack and her appearance at the London premiere had fans second-guessing themselves.
Is Donna Dead? Is Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia 2?
WARNING – SPOILERS AHEAD
The answer to both is the same word: Yes.
Mamma Mia 2 doesn’t waste any time before letting the audiences know that one year earlier Donna passed away.
Partly as a way of reconnecting with her mother, and partly to help with grieving, Sophie reopens the hotel Donna ran as the Hotel Bella Donna.
Throughout the movie, other characters delve into the pain of losing their friend.
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again focusses on a young Donna, played by Lily James, as she made her way through adolescence and how she met each of the men who could have been Sophie’s father.
Meryl Streep only appears in the movie in what Entertainment Weekly described as a glorified cameo.
Her only scene comes at the very end, in which Sophie’s infant daughter is being christened.
Featuring a surreal daydream like a moment of bittersweet heartbreak, Donna and Sophie sing My Love, My Life, the ABBA ballad to each other.
Despite this sombre note, Mamma Mia wouldn’t be Mamma Mia if it didn’t finish with a vivacious bang.
The final number sees the whole cast, from both generations, come together for a final song – Super Trouper.
And of course, there is the post-credit scene which features the customs officer (Omid Djalili) who stamps passports on the pier before characters board a ferry to the Greek island.
The post credit scene has Hugh Skinner’s young Harry chasing after young Donna after their one-night romance.
When Harry is getting his passport stamped, the unnamed customs officer says: “If she objects, have her give me a call.”
He then begins to sing a few lines of the chorus of Take a Chance on Me (by Abba, of course).
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again is in cinemas now.