Mary Poppins Returns: Here’s Everything We Know So Far

If ever there was a time to grab your spoon and get it loaded full of sugar, today would be the day. Why? Because Mary Poppins is flying her petite yet practical umbrella back into town. Mere hours ago Disney told us Mary Poppins Returns will hit theaters December 25, 2018.
It’s true we don’t know much yet about the sequel to the 1964 classic that saw Julie Andrews rocking a bowler hat like a governess-baller and Dick Van Dyke chimney-sweeping his way into our hearts. Still, Disney did release some info today, so here’s what we do know about the movie that made the pastel pinstripe suit a thing of sartorial, cartoon-farm-animal delight:

It stars some heavy hitters in the Broadway and movie-musical world.  Into the Woods‘ Emily Blunt and Hamilton‘s Lin-Manual Miranda are going to sashay their way around Depression-era London. Blunt will star as the iconic Mary Poppins, which is not only a brilliant casting move but also an incredible pun not lost on this writer. An actress named Blunt playing the no-nonsense nanny? I see you, Disney! Also, Emmy, GRAMMY, Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Miranda, whose insane amount of accolades makes me feel like a lazy, hungover rhinoceros, will take on the role of a new character, Jack the street-lamp-lighter.

.@Disney is bringing back Mary Poppins. It will fly into theaters on Christmas Day 2018 https://t.co/KTUvxsKDPc pic.twitter.com/rm0SRyMyJl

— CNN Business (@CNNBusiness) June 1, 2016

Besides Lin-Manual Miranda, the film is packed with creative geniuses. This movie’s crew is so successful it’s maddening. Mary Poppins Returns is set to be directed by Oscar nominee, Emmy Award winner Rob Marshall and will be produced by Marshall, along with Emmy winner and Golden Globe nominee John DeLuca and Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Marc Platt. Oscar nominee David Magee continues the trail of talent by penning the screenplay, which will be based on The Mary Poppins Stories by P.L. Travers. Oscar nominee and Tony Award winner Marc Shaiman is writing an all-new score and Emmy nominee and Tony Award winner Scott Wittman will compose original songs.
You’ll probably leave the theater feeling warm and fuzzy. Here’s how Disney described the plot: “The story … follows a now-grown Jane and Michael Banks, who, along with Michael’s three children, are visited by the enigmatic Mary Poppins following a personal loss. Through her unique magical skills, and with the aid of her friend Jack, she helps the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives.” Yep. All the warms. All the fuzzies.
So, it appears Mary Poppins Returns has the makings of a Jolly Holiday blockbuster though we’ll have to wait until 2018 to know for sure. Until then, let’s go fly a kite, learn how to spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and watch Kristen Bell’s minimum-wage Poppins sing her way to fiscal responsibility.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlTO8ggfes8&w=560&h=315] [MELISSA MARNI is a Southern California-based writer and the founder of little word studio. You can follow her musings on Instagram here.]