Mary Poppins Returns

Disney wants to enchant your holidays this year with what looks to be another magical classic, ‘Mary Poppins Returns’.  In this sequel of sorts, the original Banks children are all grown up but have fallen on hard times, as Michael (Ben Whishaw), now the father of three, is a widower and in danger of losing the family home.  But perhaps worse, he has forgotten all of the mystical life lessons his old nanny, Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) imparted him as a child.  At a time when they need her most, the umbrella-enthusiast returns to help set the new generation of Banks on the right path.  Here to help her out is Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), a lamplighter who apprenticed under Mary’s previous partner in hijinks Bert.  Speaking of Bert, old school fans should be delighted that Dick Van Dyke returns in the new film and even pops up in the trailer.

Filling out this stellar cast are Emily Mortimer as a grownup Jane Banks, Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson and Nathanael Saleh as the next generation of Banks children, Annabel, Georgie and John, respectively, Julie Walters as Michael’s housekeeper Ellen, Colin Firth as William Weatherall Wilkins, Michael’s boss, the current president of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank and Meryl Streep as Mary Poppins’ eccentric cousin Topsy.  Another legend, Angela Lansbury also makes an appearance as the Balloon Lady.

‘Chicago”s Rob Marshall directed this vibrant follow-up, after working for Disney on ‘Into the Woods’.  He is also attached to helm the live-action adaptation of ‘The Little Mermaid’ which will also involve Miranda.  The music for ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ is by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Watch the new trailer below:

‘Mary Poppins Returns’ was originally set to hit theaters on December 25 but was bumped up to the 19th possibly to avoid a crush of several other major releases including ‘Bumblebee’ and ‘Aquaman’.