Like most people, I'm wary of a MARY POPPINS sequel. The original is brilliant (even if the story of how it got made isn't as fluffy and sentimental as the movie SAVING MR. BANKS would have you believe), and while a sequel can't tarnish its charms, it can still be seen as unnecessary.
But the cast fo the sequel MARY POPPINS RETURNS is strong, boasting Emily Blunt as the eponymous Poppins (which is great casting), Meryl Streep, and the perpetually glassy-eyed Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Now, while I haven't drunk the HAMILTON Kool-Aid (I feel like the songs – devoid of context – sound like a rapping mascot from the '90s with a backwards cap trying to teach me history), many people I respect love it so I'm sure I'm on the wrong side of history on that one. But nonetheless, Lin-Manuel recently gave some information on the new film:
It’s straight up a sequel…Michael and Jane Banks have grown up, and they find themselves in their own spot, and Mary Poppins comes back to take care of Michael’s kids. I play a lamplighter named Jack who sort of grew up apprenticing to Bert. So I know if Mary Poppins shows up, it’s gonna get awesome. I perform that function in the movie, of saying: "Y’all don’t know about Mary Poppins. When Mary’s around, cool shit happens."
Well, that sounds…okay. Not really all that clever, to be honest. I'd almost prefer a completely different cast of characters, rather than older versions of the original ones. But, as it is, it's going to all be based on execution. Because, remember when people bemoaned the new belated MAD MAX film, since it was plagued with problems and didn't even star Mel Gibson? That turned out well. However, at the same time, remember when everyone said the belated sequel INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE was a bad idea…and were proven right? So we'll see.
MARY POPPINS RETURNS will hit sometime in 2018. Meanwhile, Lin-Manuel is also doing the music for the live-action LITTLE MERMAID, and whose work will next be seen in this year's MOANA coming out November 23, 2016.