When hard times and personal loss visit the Banks family in their home on Cherry Tree Lane in depression era London, it’s time for the magical nanny Mary Poppins to return and help them find the joy and wonder that’s missing in the family’s lives. That’s the basic plot of Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns,” which opens with special preview shows tomorrow night and with regular showings on Wednesday.
The movie starts Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins, Lin-Manuel Miranda as Jack the lamplighter, Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks, and Emily Mortimer as Jane Banks. Also making special appearances are Colin Firth as bank manager and Meryl Streep as Poppins’ Cousin Topsy.
The movie has a new story to tell, but is also a loving homage to the original. Much of the movie will seem very familiar to fans of the original. Two new clips from “Mary Poppins Returns” and one new featurette take you into the magic of the film.
Clip One: Can you Imagine that is the first big fantasy number of the film
Clip Two: Royal Doulton Bowl clip previews the big animation sequence from the movie.
Finally a new featurette looks at how Meryl Streep brings Cousin Topsy to life in the film.
Will you be seeing “Mary Poppins Returns” at your local cinema this week?
About the film:
In Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns,” an all new original musical, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives following a personal loss. Emily Blunt stars as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any ordinary task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure and Lin-Manuel Miranda plays her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light—and life—to the streets of London.
“Mary Poppins Returns” is directed by Rob Marshall. The screenplay is by David Magee and the screen story is by Magee & Rob Marshall & John DeLuca based upon the Mary Poppins Stories by PL Travers. The producers are John DeLuca, p.g.a., Rob Marshall, p.g.a. and Marc Platt, p.g.a. with Callum McDougall serving as executive producer. The music score is by Marc Shaiman and the film features all new original songs with music by Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman. The film also stars Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks; Emily Mortimer as Jane Banks; Julie Walters as the Banks’ housekeeper Ellen; Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and introducing Joel Dawson as the Banks’ children, with Colin Firth as Fidelity Fiduciary Bank’s William Weatherall Wilkins; and Meryl Streep as Mary’s eccentric cousin, Topsy. Angela Lansbury appears as the Balloon Lady, a treasured character from the PL Travers books and Dick Van Dyke is Mr. Dawes, Jr., the retired chairman of the bank now run by Firth’s character.