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'Mary Poppins Returns' Begins Production, Official Plot Revealed

Emily Blunt is set to play the world’s most beloved nanny in Mary Poppins Returns and the official synopsis for the movie has been revealed!

Production has begun on the film, co-starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, and directed by Rob Marshall.

Also starring in the movie, set to be released on Christmas Day 2018, are Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, and Julie Walters. The new Banks children will be played by Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh, and Joel Dawson.

Click inside to read the full synopsis… More Here! »

Emily Blunt Reveals Julie Andrews' Reaction to Her 'Mary Poppins' Casting

Emily Blunt is set to play Mary Poppins in an upcoming sequel and she is revealing what original star Julie Andrews had to say about her casting.

While the 33-year-old actress hasn’t spoken to Julie herself, she said director Rob Marshall had a chance to tell her about the casting before the news broke.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Emily Blunt

Rob said he was in the Hamptons, and he saw [Andrews], and he said, ‘It’s top secret, but Emily Blunt‘s playing Mary Poppins,’” she told EW. “And she went, ‘Oh, wonderful!’”

“I felt like I wanted to cry,” Emily added. “It was lovely to get her stamp of approval. That took the edge off it, for sure.”

'Mary Poppins Returns' Synopsis & Release Date Revealed!

The official synopsis for the upcoming movie Mary Poppins Returns, a sequel to the beloved Julie Andrews film, has been revealed!

Emily Blunt will star as the title character while Hamilton‘s Lin-Manuel Miranda will play a new character, a street lamplighter named Jack.

The story will take place in Depression-era London (when the books were originally written) and follows a now-grown Jane and Michael Banks, who, along with Michael’s three children, are visited by the enigmatic Mary Poppins following a personal loss. Through her unique magical skills, and with the aid of her friend Jack, she helps the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives.

“I am truly humbled and honored to be asked by Disney to bring P.L. Travers‘ further adventures to the screen. The iconic original film means so much to me personally, and I look forward to creating an original movie musical that can bring Mary Poppins, and her message that childlike wonder can be found in even the most challenging of times, to a whole new generation,” director Rob Marshall said in a statement.

The screenplay will be written by David Magee (Finding Neverland, Life of Pi) and new original songs will be written by Hairspray composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Mary Poppins Returns is set to be released on December 25, 2018!

Emily Blunt in Talks to Star in Disney's 'Mary Poppins' Sequel!

Emily Blunt is reportedly in talks to star as the title character in the upcoming sequel to the beloved movie Mary Poppins.

The 32-year-old actress’ deal is not yet finalized and her pregnancy may affect her decision. Emily is currently expecting her second child with husband John Krasinski.

The Mary Poppins sequel will be directed by Rob Marshall and produced by Marc Platt and John DeLuca, the team that Emily previously worked with on Disney’s movie musical Into the Woods.

The upcoming movie “will take place in Depression-era London 20 years after the first film and will take story lines from P.L. Travers‘ children books focusing on the magical nanny’s continued adventures with the Banks family,” according to Variety.

WHAT DO YOU THINK of Emily Blunt playing the role of Mary Poppins?

Leonardo DiCaprio Is the Man of the Hour at SAG Gala 2015

Leonardo DiCaprio shows off his dapper look on the red carpet at the SAG Foundation’s 30th Anniversary Celebration held at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday (November 5) in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The 40-year-old actor was honored at the event with the Actors Inspiration Award for “his exceptional onscreen career and philanthropic dedication as chairman of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which raises awareness of both climate change and the need to protect biodiversity.”

Filmmakers Lee Daniels, Megan Ellison, and Rob Marshall were in attendance to receive the Patron of the Artists Awards.

Other attendees at the event included Diane Kruger, Scandal actresses Darby Stanchfield and Bellamy Young, Elisabeth Rohm, James Corden, Virginia Madsen, director David O. Russell, and Patrick Stewart with wife Sunny Ozell.

FYI: Diane is wearing a Monique Lhuiller dress, Nicholas Kirkwood shoes, and an L.K. Bennett clutch. Darby is wearing a SAFiYAA suit, Elisabetta Franchi shoes, a Verbreuil bag, a Zana Bayne harness, and Lizzie Mandler jewelry. Bellamy is wearing Tamara Mellon heels, Ileana Makri earrings, and an Eva Fehren bracelet.

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Meryl Streep & 'Into The Woods' Ladies Honor Director Rob Marshall at Artios Awards 2015!

Meryl Streep hits the stage in a black jumpsuit while attending the 2015 Artios Awards Presentation at 42 West on Thursday (January 22) in New York City.

The 65-year-old actress was joined by her Into The Woods co-stars Christine Baranski and Tracey Ullman as they presented the New York Apple Award to director Rob Marshall.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Meryl Streep

Also in attendance at the event were presenters Jason Biggs, Gaby Hoffmann, and Brooklyn Decker.

Presented annually, the Artios Awards are given to Casting Society of America members using the criteria of originality, creativity and contribution of casting to the overall quality of a project.

20+ pictures inside of Meryl Streep and others at the 2015 Artios Awards PresentationMore Here! »

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Emily Blunt & Meryl Streep Bring 'Into the Woods' to London

Emily Blunt and Meryl Streep make their entrances at a photo call for their new film Into the Woods at Corinthia Hotel London on Wednesday (January 7) in London, England.

The ladies were joined by their castmates James Corden, Tracey Ullman, and director Rob Marshall.

Earlier in the day, Emily and James were spotted leaving BBC Radio 2 studios after an interview while Meryl was seen emerging from her hotel.

“I think about someone like, I don’t know, Emily Blunt or Meryl Streep or Anna Kendrick, these wonderful actors I’m working with, and I just think about making them great,” Rob recently THR. “I want to give them the room to be wonderful, give them the support and feeling they can do anything and, you know, I kind of, in a way, fall in love with them.”

FYI: Emily is wearing an Ann Taylor dress, Donna Karan tights, and L.K. Bennett shoes. Meryl is wearing a Salvatore Ferragamo top.

20+ pictures inside of Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, and more in London…More Here! »

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