Two years ago, when it was first revealed that Disney was developing a new Mary Poppins movie, everyone began speculating who would play the magical nanny — the role Julie Andrews played in the 1964 original and won an Oscar for. Despite being an American, oddsmakers had Academy Award-winner Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables) as the leading contender. Of course, it eventually went to Emily Blunt, who won a Golden Globe for her work in the 2014 musical Into the Woods.
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For the first time, Andrews has now weighed in on the new Mary Poppins. “Emily Blunt is going to play Mary Poppins and I am a great fan,” the 81-year-old English actress told Entertainment Tonight, while promoting her Netlfix series Julie’s Greenroom. “I think she is terrific and a perfect pick.”
And since Dick Van Dyke is appearing in the Mary Poppins Returns, playing the son of the old banker, is there any chance that Andrews will make an appearance in it as well? “I don’t think I’m involved in it,” she replied. Hmm. That’s an interesting response. It’s neither a “no” nor a “yes,” so it’s still a possibility.
Mary Poppins Returns is set in 1930s depression-era London (the time period of the original novels) and is drawn from the wealth of material in PL Travers’ additional seven books. In the story, Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane (Emily Mortimer) are now grown up, with Michael, his three children and their housekeeper, Ellen (Julie Walters), living on Cherry Tree Lane. After Michael suffers a personal loss, the enigmatic nanny Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) re-enters the lives of the Banks family, and, along with the optimistic street lamplighter Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), uses her unique magical skills to help THE FAMILY rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives. Mary Poppins also introduces the children to a new assortment of colorful and whimsical characters, including her eccentric cousin, Topsy (Meryl Streep).
The cast also includes Colin Firth plays William Weatherall Wilkins, the man who runs Fidelity Fiduciary Bank, and Dick Van Dyke plays Mr. Dawes Jr., the chairman of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank, as well as three new Banks children, played by Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh, and newcomer Joel Dawson.
It’s being directed and produced by Oscar-nominee, Emmy and DGA Award winner Rob Marshall (Into the Woods, Chicago). The screenplay is by Oscar-nominee David Magee (Life of Pi), based on The Mary Poppins Stories by PL Travers. Oscar-nominee and Tony-winner Marc Shaiman (Hairspray) is composing an original score and co-writing all new songs with Emmy-nominee and Tony-winner Scott Wittman (Hairspray).
MORE: Disney Begins Production Of Mary Poppins Sequel / Dick Van Dyke Confirms He Is Part Of Mary Poppins Sequel / Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda Discusses Mary Poppins Returns
Mary Poppins Returns is scheduled for release December 25, 2018.
