Variety reports that Lin-Manuel Miranda, the star and creator of Hamilton, is in talks to co-star with Blunt in Disney’s new Mary Poppins.
Advertisement
Miranda, who just won a Grammy for best musical theater album, has become a rave hit since his Alexander Hamilton musical hit Broadway.
I know we live in a world of remakes, reboots, sequels and prequels, but Mary Poppins?
Miranda would play Jack, a lamplighter resembling the character of Bert, portrayed by Dick Van Dyke in the original 1964 classic film. The studio has wanted Emily Blunt to take over the title role from the beginning and is now in negotiations to make exactly that happen. Presumably, Miranda’s involvement with the Mary Poppins sequel could include developing new songs for the film – perhaps something to hope for even more than Miranda himself appearing in the film.
Advertisement
Sources have confirmed that the new film will take place in Depression-era London. It will adapt storylines from P.L. Travers’ books that chronicled the continuing adventures of Mary Poppins and the Banks family. It is being directed and produced by Rob Marshall and co-produced by his Into The Woods collaborators John DeLuca and Marc Platt. Rumor has it that Miranda will have a role in producing new music for the film, which might not be good news for people who hate hip-hop, but it’s certainly good news for everyone else. Disney has not announced a premiere date.
