Emily Blunt is reportedly close to agreeing to play Mary Poppins in a new Disney film.
The 32-year-old actress is set to become this generation’s lovable nanny – who was brought to life in the 1964 movie based on the books by P.L. Travers – as she has been offered the prestigious role in the Rob Marshall directed reboot.
The part was made famous when fellow British star Dame Julie Andrews, now 80, made her feature film debut in the original at the age of 29 years old and won her first Academy Award for her performance as a nanny who comes to London to work for a banker’s unhappy family, while Dick Van Dyke, now 90, played her closest friend and jack-of-all-trades, Bert.
Emily has met with the Walt Disney Company to discuss the project – has been pegged for the role after she became friends with the director and producers John DeLuca and Marc Plat on the 2014 magical drama ‘Into The Woods’.
However, the actress recently discovered she is expecting her second child with her husband, ‘The Office’ star John Krasinski, and the news will undoubtedly affect her final decision or when filming can commence.
Marshall’s movie will take place in London 20 years after the original movie was set.
It will follow storylines from more of P.L. Travers’ children’s books that focus on Mary’s magical adventures with the Banks family.
Director Rob shared: "It is not a new ‘Mary Poppins’. P.L. Travers wrote eight books all together. They worked from the first book, and we are working from the other books, not touching the iconic brilliance of ‘Mary Poppins’.
"This is an extension. I’m a huge fan of the original, and I’m a very good friend of Julie Andrews, and I hold it in such awe. There is all this new material – it was the ‘Harry Potter’ of its time – and they were never turned into anything further than that adventure."
What’s more, the director revealed he’d be keen to involve Julie Andrews in the project in some capacity.
He said: "She is a very dear friend, and if she could be involved in some way, it would be very special. I know she is very happy that we’re doing it and, after 50 years, feels that it is time."
Emily Blunt offered Mary Poppins role
