Disney makes official announcement of Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda to start in Mary Poppins sequel.
It was pretty much known by Disney and entertainment enthusiasts that Emily Blunt was going to star in the Mary Poppins sequel, along with the later addition of Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. However, Disney finally confirmed their parts in the film, as well as the release date, which will be Christmas Day, or December 25, 2018.
Emily Blunt will be taking over the role of Mary Poppins, a character that was first brought to the screen in 1964 by the multi-talented Julie Andrews. Lin-Manuel Miranda will be taking on a new character named Jack, a lamplighter (supposing that chimney-sweepers weren’t obsolete during the time period of the sequel).
This new story will take place in Depression-era London and follows a now-grown-up Jane and Michael Banks, who, along with Michael’s three children, are visited by Poppins following a personal loss. She and her friend Jack then help the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives.
Rob Marshall (Into the Woods, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) will be directing the feature film and had this to say about it:
“I am truly humbled and honored to be asked by Disney to bring P.L. Travers’ further adventures to the screen. The iconic original film means so much to me personally, and I look forward to creating an original movie musical that can bring Mary Poppins, and her message that childlike wonder can be found in even the most challenging of times, to a whole new generation.”
Blunt’s latest film was The Huntsman: Winter’s War with Charlize Theron, Jessica Chastain, and Chris Hemsworth. She can be seen in the movie adaptation of the bestselling novel The Girl on the Train, which comes out October 7, 2016.
Miranda has been soaring along this past year on the Broadway production of Hamilton, for which he wrote and stars in. He also wrote music for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and is currently composing songs for Disney Animation’s Moana.
Source: EW.com