When it was announced that Emily Blunt would be stepping into Julie Andrews’ “practically perfect” shoes for an upcoming remake of their iconic Mary Poppins film, we were overjoyed.

However it seems as if Disney may have added yet another spoonful of sugar to Mary Poppins Returns, as it has now been reported that Blunt will be joined on set by her Devil Wears Prada co-star, Meryl Streep.

Which is just supercalifragilisticexpialidocious news, isn’t it?

According to Variety, Streep would be taking on the role of Topsy Turvy, better known to fans of the P. L. Travers books as Mary Poppins’ cousin.

The character did not feature in the 1964 film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, which Travers famously hated – but it has been reported that the role will require Streep to sing, much like she did for her award-nominated performance in Into The Woods.

It remains to be seen how her character will be written into the new story.

However we do already know that the plot of Mary Poppins Returns will allow fans to reconnect with a grown up Jane and Michael Banks as they are visited, along with Michael's three children, by their former nanny following a “personal loss”.

Set in Depression-era London, the film will see Poppins, with the assistance of lamplighter Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), employing all of her magical know-how to help the family to rediscover their lost joy.

The film’s director, Rob Marshall, previously worked with both Blunt and Streep on Into The Woods.

Speaking of his role in reviving the Mary Poppins story for modern-day cinema fans, he said: “I am truly humbled and honoured to be asked by Disney to bring PL 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.”

It remains to be seen whether Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, who starred as Mary Poppins and chimney-sweep Bert in the original film, will make a brief cameo in the hugely-anticipated sequel.

Image: Rex Features