Lily James films Mama Mia 2 with Jeremy Irvine

Mamma Mia! fans have been given a sneak peek at Lily James as a young version of Meryl Streep’s character Donna.

But it was Pierce Brosnan’s Sam Carmichael who was rolling back the years on Tuesday, as actor Jeremy Irvine stepped into the 007 star’s shoes for the first time in Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, the sequel to the 2008 hit.

Gorgeous Cinderella actress Lily stripped to a retro bikini for scenes on the island of Vis in Croatia, where the pair are thought to have begun their love story.

 

Rolling again: Lily James was a chick Seventies chick as she arrived on the set of Mama Mia: Here We Go Again in Croatia, on the island of Vis on Tuesday

Here we go again: Lily joined actor Jeremy Irvine for the sequel to the hit 2008 American-British-Swedish film

Here we go again: Lily joined actor Jeremy Irvine for the sequel to the hit 2008 American-British-Swedish film

Fans will know that love interest Sam is presented as one of Sophie Sheridan’s three possible father figures in the first first, which is set around two decades after the current events.

It’s the first time that 27-year-old Jeremy, best known for films such as War Horse and Railway Man, has been seen filming beside 28-year-old Lily.

It was announced in August that he would join the cast and since then, only Downton Abbey’s Lily has been seen getting into character with a young version of Tanya Chesham-Leigh (Jessica Keenan Wynn) and Rosie Mulligan (Alexa Davies), Donna’s bandmates.  

All at sea: Lily and Jeremy were spotted talking on the back of the boat as he joined filming for the first time

All at sea: Lily and Jeremy were spotted talking on the back of the boat as he joined filming for the first time

Rock on! Lily appeared to be loving life as she sizzled in her sexy swimwear on the shores

Rock on! Lily appeared to be loving life as she sizzled in her sexy swimwear on the shores

Chatty: Lily looked perfectly at ease with her co-star as she toted a bottle of water and relaxed

Lets go: Lily looked over the moon to be on-set for the day as she prepared to disembark

Lets go: Lily looked over the moon to be on-set for the day as she prepared to disembark

Making a splash: The stunning star was making a splash in the water as she played around on the boat 

Making a splash: The stunning star was making a splash in the water as she played around on the boat 

Stunner: Her sizzling ensemble showed off her abs and perky cleavage to perfection 

Feeling playful: The blonde beauty was kicking up a fuss as she played around in the boat 

Feeling playful: The blonde beauty was kicking up a fuss as she played around in the boat 

Hunky: Jeremy looked the spitting image of Pierce Brosnan as he donned an open necked shirt and shorts  and rocked tousled locks

Doppelganger: The talented actor looked muscular in his funky shirt which he paired with vintage shades

Doppelganger: The talented actor looked muscular in his funky shirt which he paired with vintage shades

On Tuesday, the duo sat side-by-side on the back of a boat chatting in their shorts and sunglasses, looking the picture of love’s young dream.

Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! ‘goes back and forth in time to show how relationships forged in the past resonate in the present,’ according to Deadline. 

Seasoned actors Pierce, 64, and Meryl, 68, are expected to reprise their roles in the sequel, and pick up where viewers left off.

Uncanny: Lily looked just like Meryl Streep’s Donna in the original hit film

Lost love: In the 2008 film, Meryl Streep (left) and Pierce Brosnan (right) played Donna and Sam

Lost love: In the 2008 film, Meryl Streep (left) and Pierce Brosnan (right) played Donna and Sam

Tensions: The first film is spent trying to work out who is the father of Donna's child

Tensions: The first film is spent trying to work out who is the father of Donna’s child

Into the blue: The duo looked relaxed in shorts and sunglasses as they portrayed the young lovers

Into the blue: The duo looked relaxed in shorts and sunglasses as they portrayed the young lovers

Group shot: It's the first time that Jeremy has been spotted on the Mamma Mia set

Group shot: It’s the first time that Jeremy has been spotted on the Mamma Mia set

The original movie was set on a Greek island where young bride-to-be Sophie, played by Amanda Seyfried, discovers that any one of three men – Bill (Stellan Skarsgard), Sam (Pierce) or Harry (Colin Firth) could be her father.

She invites all three to the wedding without telling her mother, Donna; while in the meantime, Donna has invited her backup singers, Rosie and Tanya. 

The original was based on the smash hits of Swedish rock band Abba, formed in Stockholm in 1972.

Idyllic: Lily had her game face on as she joined her tousled haired co-stars for a new scene

Idyllic: Lily had her game face on as she joined her tousled haired co-stars for a new scene

Wow factor: The stars of the film looked out on their beautiful surroundings as they prepared to film

Wow factor: The stars of the film looked out on their beautiful surroundings as they prepared to film

And co-founders Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus will return to provide music and lyrics and serve as executive producers.

Björn is also set for a cameo in the movie and was spotted shooting on board a barge on the river while the first scenes were recorded. 

The musical is set to debut on July 20, 2018. 

Taking it all in: Actress Lily hit the dock in denim shorts and a bikini top, soaking up the sea view in pictures

Taking it all in: Actress Lily hit the dock in denim shorts and a bikini top, soaking up the sea view in pictures

Snappy: Lily was keen to document her trip and was seen taking a number of selfies in the sun

Spitting image: Jeremy chatted to crew members as he prepared to play young Sam in the film

Spitting image: Jeremy chatted to crew members as he prepared to play young Sam in the film

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk