Reports indicate that Disney is working on a live-action musical follow-up to 1964’s Mary Poppins.
The film would be directed by Rob Marshall who recently directed Disney’s film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. He also directedPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, the fourth installment in the Pirates franchise, but did not return to direct the 5th which is currently filming in Australia.
The new film is described as taking place in Depression-era London, 20 years following the original film. It is expected that the film will draw inspiration from other tales in author’s P.L. Travers’ Mary Poppins book series.
New songs are being written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman who are best known for their work on the musical version of Hairspray. The script is being written by David Magee of Finding Neverland and Life of Pi fame.
It is reported that original composer Richard Sherman has already supported the project.
Author P.L. Travers’ was infamously challenging during the development of Mary Poppins as illustrated in the 2013 film Saving Mr. Banks. She also refused to work with Disney on any future projects. With her passing in 1996, the opportunity to work with her estate presented itself.
There is no word on when this film may be released.