Entertainment Weekly spills all the secrets on this month’s “Mary Poppins Returns” with the stars Emily Blunt and Lin-Manual Miranda gracing the cover. Here’s an excerpt from Meryl’s interview: As Topsy, the three-time Oscar winner has a scene-stealing supporting role in Walt Disney Pictures’ Mary Poppins Returns (in theaters Dec. 19). Streep’s character, who is a cousin to Mary Poppins, is an oddity who involuntarily spends every second Wednesday upside down. She visits to the Banks to fix family heirloom and sings the jazzy “Turning Turtle.” Streep took the role solely to work with Rob Marshall, who directed her in 2014’s Into the Woods. “Rob knew that I wanted in on whatever it was he did next. But I had no idea what he had in his head. And when he [and producer John DeLuca] invited me to talk through this idea, I thought, ‘They’re crazy, these two. They’re just insane. They’ve lost their minds,'” Streep, 69, says with a laugh in in Entertainment Weekly’s Nov. 16 issue (out now). “But It was such a big vision, and it was so ambitious that I said, ‘Oh, well, I want to be in it. Absolutely. Right away.'”

Working with the living legend was a dream come true for Lin-Manuel Miranda, who plays a lamplighter named Jack. “One of the greatest moments I experienced on set was Meryl. She was sort of in weird Mary Poppins aunt mode the whole time, and at one point she goes, ‘Hey, kids, wanna see a perfect pratfall?’ And just boom, face down, went from 90 degrees to flat. You haven’t seen Buster Keaton do a pratfall like this. Everyone rushed over like, ‘Meryl Streep has died!'” he recalls. “And then she just got up and was like, [wiping hands] ‘I learned that at Yale.'”

Bustle has an in-depth article on “Mary Poppins Returns”, Rob Marshall’s work behind the scenes and news on which songs will be performed – brace yourself for a musical number with Meryl Streep: Mary Poppins Returns is Blunt’s “third film with Meryl Streep,” the actor says, referencing The Devil Wears Prada and Into the Woods. “What a stalker she is.” In the film, Streep plays a character named Topsy, adapted from P.L. Travers’ books, who is an Eastern European distant cousin of Mary’s and lives in a fixit shop that turns upside down every Monday. Sounds a bit like Uncle Albert and his penchant for levitation, doesn’t it? The movie’s production designer teased some fun instrumental moments in Streep’s big “Turning Turtle” musical moment, because Topsy is more apt to turn a broken instrument into something else rather than fix it. When Meryl was here,” Platt recalls of the actor’s time on set, “she turned to me and said ‘it feels like we’re giving a gift to the word.'” That’s the joy that everyone involved with the movie seems to be taking in telling this new story and singing these songs. You can read the full article at Bustle with many thanks to Glenn for the heads-up!

London’s most magical nanny is back, over half a century since she first arrived on our screens, and by the looks of it, she hasn’t aged a day since. Emily Blunt takes over Julie Andrews’ iconic titular role in the first full trailer for Mary Poppins Returns, a delightful and welcome throwback to the 1964 original. The trailer promises that the style of Mary Poppins Returns will be a strong throwback to the original, bringing back elements like musical numbers and 2-D animation that have fallen out of favor since the 1960s. Mary Poppins Returns is directed by Chicago’s Rob Marshall, from a screenplay by David Magee, and screen story by Magee & Marshall and John DeLuca, and is based upon The Mary Poppins Stories by PL Travers. Hamilton founding father Lin-Manuel Miranda takes his best shot at an English accent playing Poppins’ friend Jack in the trailer, an optimistic street lamplighter helping bring light and life into the streets of London. (Rest assured, he also gets the chance to do a little dancing, and Blunt the chance to sing a few bars, as this, like the original, is a musical.) Also starring are Angela Lansbury, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, a redheaded Meryl Streep and a returning Dick van Dyke. Mary Poppins Returns arrives in theaters Dec. 19. Screencaptures from the trailer have been added to the photo gallery, alongside the new poster for the film.

During tonight’s Oscar broadcast (check the following update for more on the ceremony), Disney released a first teaser for “Mary Poppins Returns” during the commercial breaks. While it doesn’t feature Meryl and only gives a glimpse of Mary Poppins herself (I know, that’s why they call them teasers :-) the trailer gives a good idea of what to expect from Rob Marshall’s film, which is hitting theaters this Christmas. You can watch it below or in the video archive.

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.

Principal photography has commenced on Walt Disney Studio’s Mary Poppins Returns at the U.K.’s Shepperton Studios, Disney announced Friday. The much-anticipated sequel to Disney’s 1964 classic Mary Poppins stars Emily Blunt as the eponymous magical nanny created by author P.L. Travers, taking over the role from Oscar-winner Julie Andrews. The sequel co-stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Colin Firth and Meryl Streep. Young actors Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and Joel Dawson play the three new Banks children. The original film’s co-star, Dick Van Dyke, who is 91, is also set to appear. Rob Marshall directs the film from a screenplay by David Magee, and also serves as producer alongside John DeLuca and Marc Platt. Tony Award winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have written new songs for the film, with Shaiman also composing the original score. Set in Depression-era London of the 1930s, “Mary Poppins Returns” sees Michael and Jane Banks (Whishaw and Mortimer) now grown up. After Michael suffers a personal loss, Mary Poppins re-enters the lives of the Banks family and, along with the optimistic street lamplighter Jack (Miranda), uses her unique magical skills to help the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives. Many thanks to Glenn for the heads-up.

According to a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter with Dick Van Dyke, both he and Angela Lansbury will be part of Disney’s upcoming “Mary Poppins” sequel, which already helms Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Meryl Streep. The latter’s involvement hasn’t been officially announced, so once can assume if Dick Van Dyke tells it, it’s true. His mention of the project is short but poingnant, as you can see above. Also, here’s Disney’s official synopsis for the December 25, 2018 release: In Depression-era London, a now-grown Jane and Michael Banks, 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.

This one supposedly takes place 20 years later and the kids are all grown up,” he says. “It’s a great cast — Meryl Streep, Angela Lansbury and that guy [Lin-Manuel Miranda] from Hamilton.

Some news on the aforementioned sequel, courtesy VineReport and CinemaBlend. Over 50 years after its initial release, Mary Poppins still remains one of Disney’s classic hits, blending live action and animation to create a heartwarming (if not completely faithful) adaptation of P.L. Travers’ original work. While most never imagined the House of Mouse would make a Mary Poppins 2, this has finally come to pass decades later, as Mary Poppins Returns will arrive in the next few years. One of the actors participating in this follow-up is Hamilton superstar Lin-Manuel Miranda, and he recently provided a few tidbits about what moviegoers can expect from the sequel. Speaking with Variety, Miranda slightly elaborated on Mary Mary Poppins Returns’ plot, including how his character, a lamplighter named Jack, specifically connects to Dick Van Dyke’s lovable Bert from the original movie. “Michael and Jane Banks have grown up, and they find themselves in their own spot, and Mary Poppins comes back to take care of Michael’s kids,” said Miranda. “I play a lamplighter named Jack who sort of grew up apprenticing to Bert. So I know if Mary Poppins shows up, it’s gonna get awesome. I perform that function in the movie, of saying: ‘Y’all don’t know about Mary Poppins. When Mary’s around, cool sh– happens.'” Miranda stated that he would be in London during the first half of next year to film the sequel. During the interview, he also said that he would love to meet Van Dyke. Well, he might get his wish soon because it is rumored that Van Dyke and original Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews, might appear in the sequel. The two actors have yet to confirm or deny this as of the moment, so readers are advised to take this rumor with a grain of salt. Meanwhile, Meryl Streep is going to play a character named Topsy Tartlet, and sources say Ben Whishaw may be portraying Michael. Directed by Rob Marshall, Mary Poppins Returns hits theaters on December 25, 2018.

It looks like we’ll be seeing Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt in another Disney movie together, TheWrap has learned. Streep is in early negotiations to join Blunt and Lin Manuel-Miranda in “Mary Poppins Returns.” The film would not only reunite the “Into the Woods” co-stars but is also putting them back with the movie musical’s director Rob Marshall and producer Marc Platt. Disney has slated the follow up to the 1964 classic for a Christmas Day 2018 release. As TheWrap previously reported, Blunt will star as Poppins and will be joined by “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who will play a new character – streetlamp lighter Jack. Set in Depression-era London, the sequel will follow adult 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, Poppins helps the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives. “Mary Poppins” first entered pop culture through P.L. Travers’ 1934 book, which Disney adapted for the screen and released in August 1964. The film, starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, won five Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Andrews. Still yet to be made into movies, Travers wrote seven more books featuring the no-nonsense nanny, which were published between 1935 and 1988.