Pierce Brosnan to Romance Meryl Streep as Sam in Mamma Mia! Film

Pierce Brosnan will sing ABBA songs including "S.O.S." and "Knowing Me, Knowing You" as romantic lead Sam Carmichael in the upcoming Mamma Mia! movie, according to Variety. Brosnan will play opposite previously announced lead Meryl Streep in the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, which is now set to start filming on June 25 in London and Greece.

"I saw the show with my family in London, and found it just so wonderfully happy and joyful, and so pitched in time forever in the 1970s," Brosnan told Variety. "What a kick in the pants, to be able to go off and spend time with Meryl on some Greek island, singing ABBA songs."

Brosnan is best known for his work as James Bond in four films of the popular film spy series: GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Die. A native of Ireland, he first got his start in Hollywood as the lead of the long-running 1980s TV-series Remington Steele. Films include Mrs. Doubtfire, The Mirror Has Two Faces, Mars Attacks!, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Tailor of Panama, Evelyn in which he sang briefly, After the Sunset, The Matador, the current Seraphim Falls and the upcoming Butterly on a Wheel and Married Life.

In Mamma Mia!, Sam is one of three possible fathers summoned to the Greek resort of former lover Donna Streep on the occasion of her daughter Sophie's wedding. No further casting beyond Streep and Brosnan has been announced. Phyllidia Lloyd, who directed Mamma Mia! on Broadway, will helm the film from a script by librettist Catherine Johnson. The movie is being produced for Universal by stage producer Judy Craymer of Littlestar and Gary Goetzman and Tom Hanks of Playtone. Hanks' wife Rita Wilson will serve as executive producer with Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA fame.

Mamma Mia! is expected in theaters in 2008.