Quite atrocious? No, Ms Blunt’s Mary proves practically perfect
WHEN Disney announced it was making a sequel to Mary Poppins, fans of the original wondered how anyone could possibly compete with Julie Andrews.
But the first picture from the €170m new movie – called Mary Poppins Returns – suggests that actress Emily Blunt is made for the role.
Blunt, 34, who has previously appeared in The Girl On The Train and The Devil Wears Prada, looks every inch the perfectly composed singing nanny as she appears in a London street scene complete with jaunty hat, coat and colourful carpet bag. All that appears to be missing is the trademark parrot-topped umbrella which allows her to magically ‘fly’ over the rooftops of London.
Andrews, who won an Oscar for the 1965 original, has said that she welcomes the return of the nanny who cemented her place in film lore, saying: ‘I have no issue with it. It’s not a re-creation of the original film, it’s a brand new one.’
Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda plays lamp lighter Jack, an updated version of the loveable chimney sweep played by Dick Van Dyke – who, at 91, makes a cameo appearance.
‘I got to be a part of it,’ the actor said. ‘Just one little song and dance.’
The new film, which also features Meryl Streep as Mary’s cousin Topsy, Colin Firth as a bank manager, Emily Mortimer and Ben Whishaw, takes place in 1935, 25 years after the original story ended.
Mary Poppins Returns is due out in cinemas at the end of next year.