Emily Blunt Shines in These New ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Set Photos
When word got out that Emily Blunt had been cast as the title character in Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns, the overwhelming response from most people was, “Well, sure.” Blunt has proven herself to be genre agnostic over the years, as likely to wow audiences in a science-fiction or action film as she is in a light-hearted comedy. That alone would make her an ideal candidate for Mary Poppins — as the rare actress capable of convincing audiences that she’d do justice to an iconic character — but she also bears a physical resemblance to Julie Andrews to boot. You couldn’t ask for better casting.
And while we’ve only officially been treated to a teaser photo of Blunt as Poppins, thanks to a few enterprising set photographers (via Vulture), we finally have a clear look at the actress and costar Lin-Manuel Miranda as Mary Poppins and Bert, respectively. Here are a few of the photos now circulating on social media:
First reaction? Well, sure. If we accept the premise that Disney is going to remake, reboot, and re-adapt each of its most successful movies for a new generation of fans, then no Disney property becomes off-limits (well, maybe Song of the South) and we should focus our mental energy on wondering how they can modernize these movies without losing any of the charm of the original. The question as to whether or not Mary Poppins should be remade is no longer up for debate; the question of whether they’re going to get it right, however, is totally fair game. These early photos suggest that Disney knows Blunt and Miranda are a very, very strong start.
Mary Poppins Returns will also star Angela Lansbury, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Emily Mortimer, and Dick Van Dyke. The film is scheduled to be released on December 25, 2018.