Abba musical heads for the big screen

[Miss Muffet]

A big-screen adaptation of musical Mamma Mia! is on the way thanks to Tom Hanks and producing partner Gary Goetzman.

The musical focuses on a girl who is preparing for her wedding. Kept in the dark for her whole life as to the true identity of her father, she invites the three most likely candidates to the ceremony - all to the soundtrack of 22 Abba hits.

Catherine Johnson, the show's book writer, will pen the screenplay. The plot is expected to stick very closely to that of the stage show.

The musical's producer, Judy Craymer, told Variety: "The time felt right. The partnership with Gary and Tom helped everything to fall into place. We've never had stars in the show, the music has always been the star, but we are certainly thinking about names as we take this from the stage to the screen."