‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Scheduled for December 2018 Premiere; Emily Blunt to Star as Titular Magical Nanny

‘Mary Poppins Returns’ is an upcoming musical film scheduled to premiere on December 2018. It is the sequel to the original Disney musical film that starred Julie Andrews in the titular role. The new film will star Emily Blunt as the new Mary Poppins.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the sequel to the critically-acclaimed live-action musical adaptation first released in 1964 is currently in development by Walt Disney Pictures. It is scheduled to premiere on December 2018 on Christmas Day.

The original film was directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Walt Disney with songs written and composed by the award-winning Sherman Brothers, Robert and Richard. It received multiple accolades including 13 Academy Award nominations. Out of the 13, it won five namely Best Actress in a Leading Role for Julie Andrews, Best Film Editing, Best Original Song for “Chim Chim Cher-ee”, Best Score, and Best Visual Effects.

‘Mary Poppins’ starred Andrews and Dick Van Dyke as the titular nanny and Bert, respectively. It featured beloved Disney songs such as “A Spoonful of Sugar”, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”, “Step In Time”, and “Let’s Go Fly A Kite”.

According to Box Office Mojo, the original film went on to earn a total lifetime gross of $102.27 million at the domestic box office upon its release in August 29, 1964.

Acclaimed director Rob Marshall is set to helm the sequel based on a script prepared by David Magee of ‘Finding Neverland’ fame. Marshall is best known for his work on 1999’s ‘Annie’, 2002’s ‘Chicago’, 2005’s ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’, and 2014’s ‘Into the Woods’.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Marshall expressed his excitement over the new project in a statement. He said, “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."

Emily Blunt is set to reunite with Marshall once more as she has been cast to play Mary Poppins opposite Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda is set to play a new character named Jack the lamplighter.

The new film will be set 20 years after the original. It features a grown-up Jane and Michael Banks in Depression-era London. They are visited by a former nanny who helps them cope with a tragic loss by bringing back joy into their lives.

‘Mary Poppins Returns’ is an upcoming musical film scheduled to be released on December 25, 2018.