Filming has been underway for a while in London on Mary Poppins Returns the follow-up to the 1964 Disney original based on P.L. Travers' books. Via Entertainment Weekly, we're getting our first look at Emily Blunt in the role of the magical nanny.
David Magee has written the script, which draws on material from Travers' other Poppins novels. Set roughly 20 years after the first film, the story this time finds the Mary headed back to the Banks family in Depression-era London to find that her charges Jane (Emily Mortimer) and Michael (Ben Whishaw) Banks have now grown up. Michael has three children of his own, and they all need a little help re-discovering the joy in life after a personal loss.
Poppins will need the help of street lamplighter Jack (played by musical star Lin-Manuel Miranda) and cousin Topsy (Meryl Streep). Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury, Julie Walters and in a nice call-back, Dick Van Dyke are all in the cast. The picture shows Blunt's take on Mary (played, of course, by Julie Andrews in the '60s film) arriving at the Banks' old street. And though it's tough to see her completely, she certainly seems to look the part, even given the new styling for her famous bag.
Into The Woods' Rob Marshall is in the director's chair and Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman are on song/score duties. Mary Poppins Returns has its eye on a 25 December 2018 release across the pond. So that's a jolly holiday launch for both over here and the States...
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