Mary Poppins is getting a sequel. Well, that took a while…

It seems Mary Poppins may win the prize for the longest time between sequels. Yes that’s right, Disney is planning on making a Mary Poppins sequel, 51 years after the 1964 original.

The film will be based on PL Travers’s book series about the practically perfect nanny. Rob Marshall (Into the Woods) is on to direct the film, which is set to see Mary returning to the Banks family in London. Rob Marshall has previous experience in musicals, but has never undertaken something like this before. Not only will it have to appeal to fans of the original but also a new generation as well.

The bookmaker William Hill already has bets placed on who the leading lady could be.

The 6/1 favourite is of course, Anne Hathaway, whose musical talents were shown to their fullness in Les Miserable.

Following close with 7/1 odds is Emily Blunt, who has previously worked with Marshall on Into the Woods.

Anna Kendrick, Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep are 8/1.

The story will take place 20 years after the original, set in Edwardian London around 1930, and during the Depression era. Going by the list of possible leads Meryl Streep would fit the age of a returning Poppins more than any of the others. If they go with the Nanny McPhee style of it being an ageless person, sort of, then it would make sense as to why the younger female actors are being considered.

The original film was based mainly on the first volume of PL Travers’ series. The sequel is set to take experience from all eight of her books, including Mary Poppins Comes Back, Mary Poppins in the Park and Mary Poppins in the Kitchen.

The sequel has a lot to live up to if it plans to be anything like its predecessor; the original film won five Oscars, including best song and best visual effects.

Source: BBC