Lin-Manuel Miranda, writer and star of the Broadway hip hop musical Hamilton, and British actress Emily Blunt, who starred in the film version of Into the Woods, will be teaming up for a new film entitled Mary Poppins Returns. The movie, a sequel to the 1964 Disney classic Mary Poppins, is scheduled to be released on December 25, 2018.

Miranda recently won a Pulitzer Prize for writing and starring in Hamilton. Blunt has won a Golden Globe and has been nominated for several other awards.

The Banks Children Today

Blunt will star as Mary Poppins. Miranda will take on the role of Jack, a street lighter who is a new character. The story is set in London during the Depression and draws on Travers’ later novels about the beloved nanny. It tells the story of Jane and Michael Banks, who are adults now. The two of them and Michael’s three children are visited by Mary Poppins, who uses her magic and help from Jack to let the family find joy and wonder in their lives again after they suffer a loss.

The People behind the Film

The film will be directed by Rob Marshall, who also directed Blunt in Into the Woods. The screenplay was written by David Magee and drew inspiration from The Mary Poppins Stories, seven additional novels written by P.L. Travers that were published from 1935 to 1938. Marc Shaiman, who has won Tony, Grammy, Laurence Olivier, and Drama Desk Awards for his previous work, will compose a new score. He and Scott Wittman will write original songs for the movie. The film will be produced by Marshall, John DeLuca, and Marc Platt.

The History of Mary Poppins

The nanny was introduced in Travers’ 1934 novel Mary Poppins. Disney adapted the story and released the film version in August 1964. The movie starred Julie Andrews in the title role and Dick Van Dyke as Bert, a chimney sweep. The film won five Oscars, including a Best Actress Award for Andrews.

Mary Poppins the musical was originally performed at the West End starting in 2004. It opened on Broadway in 2006 and ran through 2013. The musical is currently being performed at locations across the United States.

Stories Told on Stage and on Screen

Mary Poppins is just one of several stories that have been performed both on stage and on screen. Several well-known films started out in the theater, both on and off-Broadway. The list includes Into the Woods, Annie, Chicago, La Cage aux Folles/The Birdcage, Evita, Grease, Hairspray, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Jersey Boys, just to name a few. Directors and actors make the leap from stage to screen to appeal to a wider audience or to bring back fond memories for people who enjoyed seeing the stories performed in the theater.

If you are interested in seeing Mary Poppins the musical on tour, Into the Woods on tour, or Hamilton on Broadway, you can order tickets online from On Broadway. We have discounted tickets for these and many other popular musicals. Reserve your tickets today.