It looks like one of the greatest living actresses of our time will be joining Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda in Mary Poppins Returns – a sequel to the classic Disney film which starred Julie Andrews. Variety reports that the Oscar-winning actress is very close to closing a deal with with producers John DeLuca, Marc Platt, and director Rob Marshall and singing her heart out alongside the already announced stars.
Streep is no stranger to this particular creative team. She has worked with DeLuca, Platt, Marshall, and Blunt in the 2014 Disney fantasy musical Into the Woods. We’re sure if Streep joins the cast of Mary Poppins Returns she’ll be working on her singing chops once again like she did in Into The Woods and in the 2008 musical romcom Mamma Mia! If the rumors are true Streep would be playing a character named Topsy who is Mary Poppins’ cousin. It will be a supporting role that wasn’t in the original film.
Back in May, Disney announced that Mary Poppins Returns will hit theaters on Christmas Day, 2018 with Emily Blunt wielding the famous umbrella as Poppins herself. The first Mary Poppins was released in 1964, thus there will be a 54-year-gap between the first and second films. Which is quite possibly the longest record between releases for a movie series.
(Via Variety)