There will be plenty of new faces entering the world of Mary Poppins for Disney’s planned sequel, Mary Poppins Returns. However, one familiar face has confirmed he’ll appear in the movie.
Dick Van Dyke, who famous played Poppins’ chimney sweep friend Bert in the 1964 classic, has said he’ll be back, although it doesn’t appear he’ll be playing that character again. Instead he’s suggested he’ll play the son of the banker, which is fitting, because as well as Bert, Van Dyke also played the ancient banker Mr. Dawes Senior in the earlier movie.
He told ET, “This one supposedly takes place 20 years later and the kids are all grown up. It’s a great cast – Meryl Streep, Angela Lansbury and that guy from Hamilton [Lin-Manuel Miranda]… I’ll be going to London in the spring to do my role and I get to do a little song-and-dance number. I gotta be a part of it.”
It’s certainly impressive that at 91 he’s still acting and ready to do a bit of dancing. However, it’s perhaps not too surprising, as he’s said that he never wants to stop working, as it’s what helps keep him active, happy and helping.
The follow-up will be set in the 1930s and follow Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane Banks (Emily Mortimer), as well as their children, after a major event takes place in their lives. That event results in the return of the magical Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt), who teams up with Jack (Lin Manuel Miranda) to help the family. Meryl Streep will also star as Poppins’ cousin Topsy, while Coling Firth will be William Weatherall Wilkins, president of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank. Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray, Smash) will write the songs, with David Magee penning the script, based on PL Travers other Poppins stories. Rob Marshall is set to direct, with a December 2018 release date set.
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