'Mary Poppins' sequel movie news, cast news: Emily Blunt as Disney favorite to play Mary Poppins
Disney is reportedly planning to make a sequel to the classic film "Mary Poppins," and the star said to be eyed for the titular role is "Edge of Tomorrow" actress Emily Blunt.
According to an exclusive report by Variety, Disney had been having discussions with Blunt to play magical nanny Mary Poppins in this yet-untitled sequel. Ever since she played the baker's wife in the Disney movie "Into the Woods," Blunt is said to have become a favorite choice by fans and by Disney to play the character.
Multi-awarded actress and singer Dame Julie Andrews, also famous for her role as Maria in the 1965 film "The Sound of Music" and as Queen Clarisse Renaldi in the more modern 2001 film "The Princess Diaries," was Mary Poppins in the original 1964 movie. With magic and charm, she sang her way into the hearts of the Banks family in the film and of the audiences who watched it. The magical nanny eventually left the family when the very busy Mr. Banks was finally able to reconnect with his two kids, Jane and Michael.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the sequel will feature the Banks kids who are now grown up. While the first film was set in 1910 London, the upcoming movie reportedly takes place two decades later, during the Great Depression, when Michael has kids of his own. With trouble brewing, Mary Poppins returns into the lives of her former charges and, presumably, introduces herself to the next generation of Banks kids.
The first "Mary Poppins" featured timeless songs such as "A Spoonfull of Sugar," "Pavement Artist (Chim Chim Cheree)," and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," so it would be interesting to find out what new unforgettable melodies composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman will introduce in the sequel.
The screenplay will be written by David Magee. It is reported that, like the first "Mary Poppins" movie, Disney will base the next story on the original book series by P.L. Travers, which was first published in 1934. The film will be directed and produced by Rob Marshall, while Marc Platt and John deLuca are the producers.