‘Hamilton’ Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda in Talks to Co-Star in Disney’s ‘Mary Poppins’ Sequel
Casting Emily Blunt as the new Mary Poppins was one way for Disney to get fans of the original excited about this new reboot/sequel. Blunt has proved herself as both a talented singer and actor and is one of the few people who could follow in Julie Andrews’ shoes. One other way to get fans excited? Cast the star of the hottest Broadway musical in years as the new Bert.
Variety reports that Lin-Manuel Miranda, the star and creator of Hamilton, is in talks to co-star with Blunt in Disney’s new Mary Poppins. Because this new movie is sort of a sequel to the original (it takes place in Depression-era London, approximately 20 years after the events of the 1964 original), the film will follow Mary helping out a new family and meeting a new group of friends. One of those friends would be Miranda’s Jack, a lamplighter who is described as “resembling the character of Bert” as played by Dick Van Dyke in the original.
This is not Disney’s first deal with Miranda. The actor contributed music to Star Wars: The Force Awakens and wrote some of the music for the upcoming animated film Moana, but Mary Poppins would be his first starring role in a Hollywood movie. In addition to starring in the film, Miranda is expected to take an active role in composing new songs for Mary Poppins. Sadly this means that Miranda’s time as the star of Hamilton may be coming to a close. That should make getting tickets even harder.
Rob Marshall, who directed Blunt in another Disney musical, Into the Woods, will direct Mary Poppins, which does not yet have a release date.