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Emma Thompson romcom Last Christmas won’t be like Mamma Mia!

Emma Thompson’s upcoming George Michael-inspired romcom will be much more “dramatic” than films like Mamma Mia!

The actress and screenwriter had conceived an idea for a romantic comedy based on Wham!’s iconic 1984 festive hit with George before his death on Christmas Day in 2016.

Now, Emma has shared that fans should expect the film to deal with darker themes than jukebox musicals like 2008 movie Mamma Mia! – as the singer always wanted the film to address political issues.

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“I’d met with George Michael,” she told The Daily Mail newspaper. “He was concerned about the homeless, which is a large part of this story. We spoke a lot about life and death, and there’s a lot of that in this film as well. This is not a George Michael-Mamma Mia! movie. It’s inspired by the songs, and inspired by him. It’s a dramatic romantic comedy.”

In addition, director Paul Feig confirmed the plot of the film will explore how Britain leaving the European Union and U.S. President Donald Trump’s elevation affects its characters, including Kate, the struggling daughter of an immigrant mother who finds romance in troubled times.

“It’s first and foremost a love story set in 2016, against a backdrop of Brexit and Trump, and a chance to go against so much intolerance and see what a melting pot London, and the world, is,” he said.

Emma, who is playing Kate’s mother, added that her character “had to leave the former Yugoslavia to come to Britain and now feels unwelcome because of Brexit”.

Her daughter is portrayed by Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke, who she described as a “hopeless young lady” who works as a Christmas elf before falling for Tom, played by Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding.

Last Christmas will hit cinemas in November (19).

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