Parker explains, "If it had worked out that Meryl was going to be the lead for the whole thing, then they would have waited for a time when Meryl could be the lead for the whole thing," he shares. Adding, " It was about finding the best story to tell that worked for everybody and this was the story we settled on" (via Cosmopolitan).
For those of you who have seen the film, this explanation appears to be true. And when further detailing his decision to kill Streep's character Donna, Parker reveals, "I think it's the most meaningful and emotional and impactful way to tell that story and this was my suggestion," he says. And what did Streep think about her characters send off? Parker shares, "Obviously it was greatly discussed with everyone and Meryl was thrilled and delighted with it" (via Vulture).
Hmm, "thrilled" and "delighted" are both Hollywood airbrushing adjectives, but we have to trust him. Plus, Streep does appear in a few dream sequences in Mamma Mia 2 which strengthens the claim that she supported Donna's death. "Streep's" passing may have been shocking to many of us, but at least we're comforted knowing her spirit continues to live on, on the imaginary Greek island of Kalokairi.
