MARY POPPINS Sequel Adds a Lamplighter
Yes, Mary Poppins — what? She’s a Time Lady — is getting a sequel from Disney, with Rob Marshall directing and co-producing with Marc Platt and John DeLuca. David Magee is on screenplay duties with new songs from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
Joining Emily Blunt (playing Mary), Lin-Manuel Miranda, currently starring in the hit musical Hamilton on Broadway, will play Jack, a lamplighter and friend of Mary’s who gets brought into the fold to help the grown up Jane and Michael Banks deal with a personal tragedy.
This film will serve as a sequel to the 1964 film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, adapted from the 1934 book by P.L. Travers. The Travers estate is on board with Disney on this project, and it may serve as the launch of additional projects. In all, Travers wrote eight books featuring Mary Poppins between 1935 and 1988.
Miranda not only stars as Alexander Hamilton in the show that bears the Founding Father’s name, but he also wrote the book, music, and lyrics. He’s also composing music for the upcoming Disney animated film Moana, which stars Dwayne Johnson.
