The in-production Disney film “Mary Poppins Returns” is not due until 2018, but the buildup of hype is quite palpable since the first publicity stills of it came out this March. As the surprise sequel to one of the best-known musicals ever, it’s something to watch out for. After all, it has one of the largest filming gaps between sequels (54 years, with the largest being 63).
Regarding the in-story time though, a quarter-century has passed from the time of the original 1964 film starring Julie Andrews as the magical nanny Poppins, and that of the sequel where the role is picked up by the just as charming Emily Blunt.
New information has also been released as to what Mary Poppins will be up to with the now-grown children of Mr. Banks from old.
New blurbs
The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly managed to score some new info on the general plot of “Mary Poppins Returns,” which sees the mysterious magical nanny (Emily Blunt) returning to Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane in London just as her former young charges the Banks children need her the most.
One of the central themes of the Disney sequel is the contrast between the distinctive time periods between past and present, the Edwardian England of the Banks’ childhood and the Depression Era wherein siblings Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane Banks (Emily Mortimer), and Michael’s three children, find themselves in.
Whishaw spoke of his and Mortimer’s role of the original children from the first film, but as adults, speaking about the wonder of revisiting the beloved young characters at a far different age and circumstance.
Saving Mister Banks Junior
Michael Banks has followed the footsteps of his father and became a banker, even working in the same place at Fidelity Fiduciary Bank run by William Weatherall Wilkins (Colin Firth).
At heart, however, Michael longs to be an artist, and this mindset had him raise his family with lots of warm love in contrast to the late elder Mr. Banks. But when his wife suddenly dies, Michael finds himself struggling to both looks after his children and keep his job and finds himself repeating history.
His spinster sister Jane tries to help with the household when not assisting underpaid workers as a union organizer, an uphill struggle during the Great Depression too.
With the three new Banks children - twins John (Nathanael Saleh) and Annabel (Pixie Davies) and youngest son Georgie (Joel Dawson) – are left to their own devices, it’s up to Mary Poppins to swoop in on her flying umbrella and make things right again.
“Mary Poppins Returns” also stars Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy), and Lin-Manuel Miranda as the chimney sweep Jack, apprentice of Dick Van Dyke’s character in the original. Much has yet to be done before the Disney film is released on Christmas Day of 2018.
