Have we mentioned that we're excited!?
Not only is there going to a follow up to the 1964 Disney classic Mary Poppins, but Julie Andrews has given her official blessing for Emily Blunt to play the lead!
The reboot, which is slated for 2018, will offer a distinct look at the famous nanny that is reportedly a bit truer to the Mary Poppins of the eponymous book series written by P. L. Travers. Director Rob Marshall is taking on the project and ran into Andrews herself in the Hamptons recently where he told her that Blunt was ascending to the role.
‘Rob said he was in the Hamptons, and he saw [Andrews], and he said, “It’s top secret, but Emily Blunt’s playing Mary Poppins,’’ Blunt told Entertainment Weekly. ‘And she went, “Oh, wonderful!”’
“I felt like I wanted to cry,” she continued. “It was lovely to get her stamp of approval. That took the edge off it, for sure.”
Amazing. We expect nothing less from Andrews, who is truly one of the loveliest actresses of our time. Lucky for us, Andrews is still lighting up the world with her talent as director of a forthcoming production of My Fair Lady in Australia. (I don’t know about you, but I still haven’t gotten over learning that the cast of Princess Diaries 2 cried during Andrews’ on-set singing debut following an extensive throat surgery in 1997.)
Blunt will join Hamilton star and creator Lin-Manuel Miranda in the new film, and there are rumors Meryl Streep will be part of the cast as well. According to Variety, Streep will potentially play Topsy, a character that was not in the original film, and will also have a singing role.
Talk about a star-studded return! While Blunt certainly has some big shoes to fill, we’re optimistic that she’ll make Andrews very proud.
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