Mary Poppins Returns: Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke to join Emily Blunt for sequel?

People


Mary Poppins Returns: Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke to join Emily Blunt for sequel?

By Kayleigh Dray

Updated 6 years ago

In 1964, Mary Poppins grabbed hold of her magical umbrella and sailed gracefully onto the silver screen.

And now, over 50 years later, the practically perfect nanny is set to return, thanks to Disney’s upcoming sequel, aptly titled Mary Poppins Returns.

As we already know, Emily Blunt will be taking over the iconic titular role. The Devil Wears Prada actress will be joined by Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is set to play Jack, a lamplighter.

But there’s a spoonful of sugar to add to this exciting reboot news in the form of Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke themselves. 

That’s right; according to a report in E!, the original wonder-nanny and her chimney-sweep pal, Bert, are in talks to appear in the film, half a century after they first played the leading roles in Mary Poppins.

There are no details about what roles they would play. 

As if that weren’t supercalifragilisticexpialidocious enough, it was recently reported that Meryl Streep is also being lined up for a role in the star-studded sequel.

According to Variety, the award-winning actress is set to play Topsy Turvy, better known to fans of P. L. Travers' books as Mary Poppins’ cousin.

The character did not feature in the 1964 film, which Travers famously hated – but, with a name like that, we're very glad she will be appearing on the silver screen for Mary's second outing.

It has been reported that the role will require Streep to sing. Thank goodness, then, that she will be directed by her Into The Woods collaborator, Rob Marshall – and will have songs penned for her by Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award winning composer Marc Shaiman.

Set 20 years after the events of the first film, Mary Poppins Returns will be set in Depression-era London. The story will follow that of an adult Jane and Michael Banks, along with Michael’s three children, as they struggle to come to terms with a recent tragedy (which will reportedly revolve around a death in the family).

Thankfully for them, however, their seemingly ageless nanny, Mary Poppins, is on standby to float gently into town and help them to overcome their grief, presumably through the art of singing catchy songs, making eccentric friends, and embarking on a magical (and animated) jolly holiday.

Mary Poppins Returns will hit cinemas on December 25 2018 in the US, with a UK release date yet to be confirmed.

Most inspirational Disney quotes:

Winnie The Pooh

"If everybody were like everybody else, how boring it would be. The things that make me different are the things that make me, Me!" (Piglet and Eeyore, to Pooh)


The Hunchback of Notre Dame

"Life’s not a spectator sport. If watchin’ is all you’re gonna do, then you’re gonna watch your life go by without ya." (Gargoyle to Quasimodo)


Mulan

"The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all." (The Emperor of China)


The Lion King

"Oh yes, the past can hurt. But, the way I see it, you can either run from it... or learn from it." (Rafiki to Simba)


Pocahontas

"You think the only people who are people, are the people who look and think like you. But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you’ll learn things you never knew you never knew." (Pocahontas to John Smith)


The Incredibles

"I never look back, darling! It distracts me from the now." (Edna Mode to Bob Parr)


Cinderella

"Even miracles take a little time." (Fairy Godmother to Cinderella)


Hercules

"A true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart." (Zeus to Hercules)


Lilo and Stitch

"Ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind. Or forgotten." (Stitch)


Mary Poppins

"Open different doors, you may find a you there that you never knew was yours. Anything can happen." (Bert and Mary Poppins)


The Princess and the Frog

"I remember daddy told me 'fairytales can come true'. But you've got to make them happen, it all depends on you!" (Tiana to her mother)


Alice In Wonderland

“You’re mad, bonkers, off your head! But I’ll tell you a secret: all the best people are.” (Alice Kingsley to the Mad Hatter)


A Bug's Life

"Everything that made that giant tree is already contained inside this tiny little seed. All it needs is some time, a little bit of sunshine and rain, and voilá! Now, y-you might not feel like you can do much now, but that's just because, well, you're not a tree yet. You just have to give yourself some time. You're still a seed." (Flik to Dot)


Aladdin

"Do not be fooled by its commonplace appearance. Like so many things, it is not what outside, but what is inside that counts." (The Merchant to the audience)


Dumbo

"The very things that hold you down are going to lift you up." (Timothy Mouse to Dumbo)


Finding Nemo

"Just keep swimming" (Dory to Marlin)


Snow White

"You're never too old to be young" (Happy)


Brave

"There are those who say fate is something beyond our command. That destiny is not our own, but I know better. Our fate lives within us, you only have to be brave enough to see it." (Merida, to the audience)


Peter Pan

"All it takes is faith and trust." (Peter Pan to the Darling children)


Frozen

"It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small. And the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all." (Elsa, to the audience)


The Little Mermaid

"If I may say... far better than any dream girl is one of flesh and blood. One warm, and caring, and right before your eyes." (Grimsby to Prince Eric)


Tangled

"I could go running

And racing

And dancing

And chasing

And leaping

And bounding

Hair flying

Heart pounding

And splashing

And reeling

And finally feeling

Now's when my life begins!"

(Rapunzel to Eugene)


Monsters Inc

"You and I are a team. There is nothing more important than our friendship." (Mike to Sully)


Wall-E

"I don't want to survive. I want to live." (The Captain)


Image: Rex Features/Disney

undefined

By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy

Thank you!

You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.