When it comes to remakes, particularly those of classic and beloved films, most of us are rightfully skeptical, but Disney is making it awfully difficult to have anything bad to say about the upcoming MARY POPPINS RETURNS, which, to be fair, is technically a sequel to the original rather than a straight up remake. The studio has been assembling quite the talented cast for the sequel and Variety has announced that Emily Mortimer (The Newsroom) is the latest to join up with MARY POPPINS RETURNS.
The outlet reports that Mortimer will be playing the now grown-up Jane Banks, who, along with her brother Michael, was one of the children Mary Poppins looked after in the original film. Starring Emily Blunt in the title role, MARY POPPINS RETURNS takes place 25 years later in Depression-era London and 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." The sequel also stars Ben Whishaw as Michael, Lin-Manuel Miranda as a street lamplighter named Jack and Meryl Streep as Topsy, Mary Poppins' cousin.
MARY POPPINS RETURNS is set for a December 25, 2018 release.