Emily Blunt confirmed to play Mary Poppins in new Disney film to be released Christmas Day 2018

New role: Emily Blunt has been confirmed to play Mary Poppins
Anthony Harvey/Getty Images
Jennifer Ruby1 June 2016
The Weekender

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Disney have confirmed that Emily Blunt will play Mary Poppins in a brand new film.

Slated for release on Christmas Day 2018, Mary Poppins Returns will also star Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda.

While the film was rumoured to have been in the works for months, the studio has now officially announced plans for what is set to be a winter blockbuster.

The new film, following on from the 1964 classic starring Julie Andrews, will tell the story of an older Jane and Michael Banks and their children.

Mary Poppins - in pictures

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According to Disney, the family will be visited by Poppins in the aftermath of a ‘personal loss’ in Depression-era London.

She will be joined by friend Jack, played by Miranda, who will help the family rediscover the joy that has been missing from their lives.

Rob Marshall, who will direct the film, 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.”

Disney is reportedly working closely with Travers’ estate on the project after the famously frosty relationship between Walt Disney and Travers over the original film.

Songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman are on board to pen new, original songs, while David Magee will write the screenplay.

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