To read more about Mary Poppins Returns, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly on stands Friday, or buy it here now. It’s no secret that all nannies are compared to one single, supernaturally-inclined doyenne of discipline who flew in on the eastern wind in 1964. The iconic character has stayed in the hearts of moviegoers in the decades since she first burst onto the screen — and now, she’s back. Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns (in theaters Christmas 2018) might be one of the highest-profile sequels ever attempted, more than half a century after Walt Disney’s cinematic classic immortalized the careers of Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, smashed records, got a word in the dictionary (guess which one) and become one of the most cherished films of all time. This time, Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) leads Michael’s wayward children (and Jane and Michael themselves) on a series of unbelievable adventures — to the top of Big Ben, the bottom of the ocean, into magical encounters with animated dancing penguins and upside-down cousins (hey, Meryl Streep!). If anyone can help this family find the light they’ve lost, it’s Mary Poppins. The complete article can be read over at Entertainment Weekly and a first on-set picture can be found in the photo gallery.

The Massachusetts Conference for Women has announced that Meryl Streep and Viola Davis will be keynote speakers at the Massachusetts Conference for Women on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Adam Grant, top-rated Wharton Professor and best-selling co-author, with Sheryl Sandberg, of Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy will also deliver a keynote address. “We are delighted to welcome Meryl Streep, Viola Davis and Adam Grant to the main stage in Boston,” said Gloria Larson, board chair of the Massachusetts Conference for Women. “This standout lineup of speakers, icons in the arts and in business, are sure to inspire attendees in ways they will long remember.” The 13th annual Massachusetts Conference for Women will host over 11,000 attendees for a full day of networking, inspiration, professional development and personal growth. In addition to a standout lineup of keynote speakers, the nonpartisan, nonprofit event will feature breakout sessions led by more than 150 experts and industry leaders about topical issues including building networks, branding, work-life balance, managing up, happiness and civility in the workplace and life. Many thanks to Frank and Glenn for the heads-up.

According to Variety, Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk, Matthew Rhys, Bradley Whitford, Carrie Coon, Jesse Plemons, David Cross, Alison Brie, Bruce Greenwood, Tracy Letts, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Zach Woods have joined the ensemble of Steven Spielberg’s “The Papers,” which already stars Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep. The film centers on the Washington Post’s decision to publish the classified Pentagon Papers in 1971. Formerly known as “The Post,” the movie is a co-production between Amblin Entertainment and Fox. The film has been fast-tracked with the hope of making this year’s awards season race, with production already underway. The movie will see a limited release on Dec. 22 and go wide on Jan. 12, 2018. Amy Pascal’s Pascal Pictures purchased the spec from Liz Hannah last fall, with Pascal on board to produce along with Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger. Rachel O’Connor will executive produce with Star Thrower Entertainment’s Tim and Trevor White, and Adam Somner. The pic will be co-financed by Fox and Amblin Entertainment. Fox will handle domestic distribution; international will be Amblin, through its output deals with Universal, eOne, Reliance, and others. The Pentagon Papers made headlines prior to publication when the Post’s editor Ben Bradlee and publisher Kay Graham challenged the federal government over their right to publish them. Together, the two formed an unlikely team, as they were forced to come together and make the bold decision to support The New York Times and fight the Nixon Adminstration’s unprecedented attempt to restrict the first amendment. Many thanks to Frank for the heads-up.

One of my favorite tasks is to find pictures from old events. And since it’s been some time since the last proper appearances update, I’ve finally managed to upload all pictures I have found over the last months – a good 200 images ranging from the 1979 premiere for “Kramer vs. Kramer” to 1999’s “Music of the Heart”. All albums with new pictures have also been updated and replaced with better quality versions, so make sure to look around. Since there’s too much to list, simply click the previews below for a complete list of last added albums or click here for all last added pictures. Two recent events have been updated as well, last month’s PEN America Literary Gala and last year’s Tokyo Film Festival Opening Ceremony. Enjoy the new additions.

Besides her film work, a big part of Meryl’s career consists of narrations for television programs, documentaries and feature films. It’s a wide range of interests, from human rights and nature to art and music. And probably even something for her children to watch (The Simpsons and King of the Hill). Especially in her feature voice work, it’s amazing how even animated characters come to life through her voice, just have a look at the amazing “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and the equally odd but entertaining “Higglety Pigglety Pop” from 2010. Three new categories have been added to the video archive, Narration: Film & Television, Narration: Documentaries and Miscellaneous Productions with over 50 additions of excerpts, behind-the-scenes recordings and trailers. Also, make sure to visit the career page to learn more about these projects. Enjoy.

Video Archive – Career – Narration: Film & Television
Video Archive – Career – Narration: Documentaries
Video Archive – Career – Miscellaneous Productions

AFI has announced the first round of talent who will be attending the 45th American Film Institute Life Achievement Award, where Diane Keaton will be honored in a gala tribute. Naturally, Keaton will be in attendance, and as is tradition for the ceremony, many of her costars and friends will be on hand to fête the actress-director-writer-producer. Entertainment Weekly can exclusively reveal that Ellen DeGeneres, Morgan Freeman, Steve Martin, Meryl Streep, and Reese Witherspoon will be in attendance to celebrate Keaton’s career in Hollywood and beyond. Freeman, Martin, and Streep are all previous recipients of the award. Many more names are still to be announced, according to AFI. The gala will take place on Thursday, June 8 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. TNT and TCM will broadcast the event in a one-hour special on June 15 and July 31, respectively. TCM will air the special as part of a night of programming dedicated to the 71-year-old’s work. Many thanks to Glenn for the heads-up.

Today, Variety brings us some surprising, very unexpected news. Universal is officially moving along on a sequel to the 2008 hit “Mamma Mia,” with “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” scribe Ol Parker writing and directing the new movie. The studio also dated the film, titled “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!,” for July 20, 2018. Playtone Pictures, which produced the first pic, is back on for the sequel. Universal has been bouncing around ideas for years on how to proceed with the box office smash. Sources say that one angle could focus on Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, and Pierce Brosnan characters years before the original takes place. The first film is based on the iconic musical about a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs by the popular ’70s group Abba. The sequel will feature Abba songs not featured in the 2008 movie, “along with some reprised favorites,” according to the studio’s announcement. Littlestar’s Judy Craymer and Playtone’s Gary Goetzman, who produced the original, will reteam for the sequel. Craymer is also the creator and producer of the stage musical. Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus are aboard again to provide music and lyrics and serve as executive producers. Parker is best known for writing both “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” movies.

Meryl Streep was among the many celebrity speakers at yesterday’s Chaplin Gala to honor Robert De Niro. Deadline reports that in a speech made at a gala benefit in his honour at the Lincoln Center in New York, the 73-year-old actor took aim at the Trump administration’s “extreme vetting”, which he feared could prevent “the next Chaplin” from entering the country. “All of us in film – directors, actors, writers, crews, audiences – owe a debt to Charlie Chaplin, an immigrant who probably wouldn’t pass today’s extreme vetting. I hope we’re not keeping out the next Chaplin,” he said. In a wide-ranging speech made in acceptance of the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Chaplin award, De Niro also criticised the Trump administration’s “hostility” towards the arts, arguing that its proposed termination of agencies such as the National Endowment for the Arts had been made for “divisive political purposes”.

By being here tonight, you are supporting arts for everyone. You’re supporting the slapstick of Charlie Chaplin, the great body of work of Marty Scorsese and Barry Levinson, the dumb-ass comedies of Robert De Niro, the overrated performances of Meryl Streep and your own taste and needs.

Pictures from the event have been added to the photo gallery.

It’s been a busy Tuesday for Meryl Streep, having attended both the Women for Women Luncheon and the 100th Anniversary of Planned Parenthood. At the luncheon, Hillary Clinton was the featured speaker and was interviewed by Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international correspondent and anchor of “Amanpour.” Streep, Donna Karan, Billie Jean King and Sophie Turner were among the 650 women who attended the luncheon at 583 Park Avenue. The event succeeded in raising $1.2 million for the programs that improve women’s lives in countries affected by conflict and war. Later in the evening, Meryl was joined by Tina Fey and Scarlett Johansson to support Planned Parenthood at its centennial celebration, and to hear Clinton urge continued activism on behalf of women and girls around the world, and access to services like pregnancy and maternity care. Advancing women’s rights and opportunities, Clinton said at the event Tuesday evening — during which she received an award — “remains the great unfinished business of the 21st century. And some days, it seems like it may be even more unfinished than we’d hoped.” Pictures from both events have been added to the photo gallery, alongside some new pictures from the PEN America Gala.

Meryl Streep, has called for the freeing of Oleg Sentsov, a Ukrainian filmmaker sentenced to 20 years in jail after being subjected to a sham trial in Russia. Streep was pictured alongside Ukrainian lawmaker Mustafa Nayyem with a “Free Sentsov” sign in a photograph taken during the PEN America Annual Literary Gala on April 25, at which Sentsov was honoured with a 2017 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write award. Nayyem, who posted the photograph on his Facebook account on April 30, said that the actress was genuinely interested in Sentsov’s case, and eager to help. “She was already aware of the fact that one of the nominees is an imprisoned filmmaker, but didn’t know (Sentsov’s) entire story,” Nayyem wrote, “I told her about the case, (Sentsov’s) family, Crimea, (Russian) nationality being forced upon him, and his two children stuck in the annexed territory.” Nayyem said that Streep asked him how she could help, which is when the lawmaker told her about the Pen America campaign for freeing Sentsov and suggested they take a photograph with a “Free Sentsov” sign to raise awareness. “She agreed without hesitating,” Nayyem says, adding that she also asked Nayyem to be in the photograph too. “Who will believe that I came up with this sign myself?” Nayyem quoted Streep as saying.The complete article can be read over at Kyiv Post, with many thanks to Glenn for the heads-up.