Rob Marshall To Direct ‘Mary Poppins’ Sequel For Disney
Disney’s apparent quest to update every single movie in its catalog continues unabated. The next classic in its sights isMary Poppins, asRob Marshallhas signed on to direct a new live-action musical based onP.L. Travers' books. (The struggle to get the rights of which were chronicled in another recent Disney movie,Saving Mr. Banks.) More details on the newMary Poppinssequel after the jump.
EWreports theMary Poppinssequel will be a musical set in Depression-era London, which is about 20 years later than the originalMary Poppins. Furthermore, while the 1964 film mostly pulled from the first installment of Travers' eight-book series, the new movie “will explore Mary’s further adventures with the Banks family and beyond as illustrated by Travers' seven additional novels.” Despite all that, the site stresses the new Mary Poppins movie isnotenvisioned as a sequel.David Magee(Finding Neverland,Life of Pi) will write the screenplay, whileMarc ShaimanandScott Wittman(Hairspray,Smash) will compose original songs and a new score. The newMary Poppinshas the blessing of the Travers estate, as well as the support of originalMary Poppinsco-composer (with his late brother Robert)Richard Sherman.
Marshall has plenty of movie musical experience. He got an Oscar nomination in 2003 forChicago, and recently teamed up with Disney forInto the Woods. (In between, he helmed the critically planned musicalNine.) ProducersJohn DeLucaandMarc Platt, who worked onInto the Woods, are also back forMary Poppins.
The newMary Poppinsfilm has a lot to live up to.Mary Poppinswas a smash hit when it opened in 1964, out-earningThe Sound of MusicandMy Fair Lady. It picked up five Oscars (including Best Actress for Julie Andrews and Best Original Song for “Chim Chim Cher-ee”) and was nominated for eight more.
Here is the original 1964 trailer for Mary Poppins:
And here is a trailer for Disney’s 2013 film Saving Mr. Banks which was about author P. L. Travers' struggle with Walt Disney in making the film adaptation:
