Back in September, Disney announced they were moving forward on aMary Poppinssequel, that will take place roughly 20 years after the events of the original movie, set in the 1930s. We haven’t heard anything about the project since then, but today we have word fromThe Hollywood ReporterthatEmily Bluntis in talks to star as the title character. The actress' name surfaced as a potential candidate to playMary Poppinsin September, but now negotiations are officially under way.
The story will be pulled from authorP.L. Travers' eight literary sequels, including the first follow-upMary Poppins Comes Back. The firstMary Poppinsmovie was released in 1964, starringJulie Andrewsand Dick Van Dyke, with the story set in 1910. This new report reveals that the sequel is set in Depression-era London, following the adult Michael Banks, who now has children of his own. When his big sister Jane returns to town, after falling on hard times, their belovedMary Poppinscomes back to help.
AuthorP.L. Traverswrote eightMary Poppinsbooks, but it isn’t known if this theatrical follow-up will be adapted from a specific story within those books, or if it will be an amalgam of those stories.P.L. Travers' literarysequelsincludeMary Poppins Comes Back(1935),Mary Poppins Opens the Door(1943),Mary Poppins in the Park(1952),Mary Poppins From A to Z(1962),Mary Poppins in the Kitchen(1975),Mary Poppins in Cherry Tree Lane(1982) andMary Poppins and the House Next Door(1988). Part of the story will most likely be based onMary Poppins Comes Back, but we don’t know if that will be the official title yet.
Rob Marshallis directing from a screenplay byDavid Magee(Life of Piand Finding Neverland).Rob Marshallis teaming up with musicians Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray), who will composeoriginal songsand a new score. The filmmakers are also working withP.L. Travers' estate and the project has the blessing ofMary Poppinscomposer Richard M. Sherman, who wrote the movie’s famous songs like “Chim Chim Cher-ee” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” with his late brother, Robert B. Sherman.
Rob Marshallis also producing alongside John DeLuca and Marc Platt, who all collaborated on the Disney musical adaptationInto the Woods. This project comes just two years after the release of Disney’sSaving Mr. Banks. That film told thebehind-the-scenes storyof howWalt DisneyconvincedP.L. Traversto turnMary Poppinsinto a feature film, which earned $116.5 million at thebox officeworldwide during its theatrical run. Emily Blunt most recently starred in the critically-acclaimedSicario, and she will next be seen later this year inThe Huntsman: Winter’s War(April 22) andThe Girl on the Train(October 7).
