The news that 1964 classic Mary Poppins is getting a sequel hasn’t gone down well with some, but the fact Emily Blunt is taking over the role made famous by Julie Andrews has helped. It also doesn’t hurt that director Rob Marshall is assembling one hell of a cast.
The latest addition looks set to be British actor Ben Whishaw. Perhaps best known these days for playing Q in James Bond movies Skyfall and Spectre, other recent credits include London Spy and The Lobster. In Mary Poppins Returns (which is set 20 years after the original), he’ll take on the role of Michael Banks, a character previously portrayed by Matthew Garber.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Michael will be a key figure in the Mary Poppins sequel following a personal loss which leads to the return of his big sister Jane. Ultimately, Mary comes back to help the family alongside her lamplighter friend Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda).
We don’t know who will play Jane yet, but Meryl Streep is in talks for a role, so the cast is really shaping up well so far. Shooting is expected to begin in London early next year for a December 25th, 2018 release, so expect more updates to following in the coming months.
