In one of the most eagerly anticipated movie sequels of all time, a whole new cast will take on the huge challenge of bringing the magical world of Mary Poppins back to life in upcoming movie Mary Poppins Returns – and it’s packed full of loving nods to the original from start to finish.
From Dick Van Dyke’s triumphant return, to the Banks children all grown up and of course Mary herself returning with her usual grandeur and elegance, it looks set to storm the box office once again with some beautiful tributes to the Julie Andrews ’80s classic.
Here are a few ways the new movie will make those treasured memories come flooding back:
Julie Andrews was widely praised across the world for her portrayal of the strict but loveable nanny in the original movie, and was well known at the time for her elegant style, trim hat full of flowers and of course her classic carpet bag.
Rather than changing her look decades later, new lead actress Emily Blunt has put a slightly modern spin on her style with her own flower hat, scarf, slim coat and bag – even entering under a flying umbrella just like Julie’s character.
Actress Karen Dotrice and actor Matthew Garber took centre stage as Jane and Michael Banks in the first Mary Poppins movie, and the sweet characters make an incredible return in the new movie – this time, all grown up.
Michael and Jane are played by Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer this time round, and understandably look completely different years later. While Jane appears to be as kind-hearted and responsible as ever from the trailers, Michael has completely changed and dropped his fun side – instead taking after his own father and becoming the stern figure of the movie.
He now has his own children he’s struggling to parent on his own, after the sad death of his wife, and has called on his sister for support. While Michael’s children will take on the main roles in the new movie, (under the watchful eye of Mary), he and Jane will likely enjoy lead roles once again too as they rediscover magic in adult life.
It’s hard to imagine the first movie enjoying the success it did without fun and loveable rogue Bert, and the producers of the latest instalment have ensured his shoes have been filled well.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, star and creator of the Broadway hit musical Hamilton, will play maintenance man Jack, who appears in a scruffy uniform and a hat that are immediately reminiscent of chimney sweep Bert’s outfits all those years ago.
According to reports, there’s even a lamplighters musical number, written by composer Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, that perfectly mirrors Bert’s memorable hit ‘Step In Time’.
Stealing the show in the new movie is much-loved actor Dick Van Dyke, 92, who returns more than five decades after starring as Bert in the classic hit. He also played ageing banker Mr Dawes in the original, and he now fittingly takes on the role of the character’s son this time round.
A teaser for the new movie previously showed the actor happily dancing on top of a table, in a scene strikingly similar to the original, while wearing his signature black suit and red flower.
All Mary Poppins fans will remember the incredible transformation of Mr Banks in the first movie, going from uptight and strict to laid back and ready for a laugh with his children in the final kite flying scene.
And while his son Michael was completely sweet and innocent in the first movie, enjoying and believing all of Mary’s magical worlds, he appears to have taken over his father’s role this time round – becoming strict and sceptical just like him.
No doubt producers will follow a similar storyline for the character this time round, as he rediscovers magic with the help of his own children.
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The first movie came to a charming end with the whole Banks family rushing off together to fly their brand new green kite at the end, and in a fitting nod to the original, the second film starts off with the grown-up Banks children finding it in the attic all those years later.
Later on, Michael’s son sneaks out to fly it with the help of Jack, and it leads to Mary catching hold of it in the clouds and making her grand entrance – almost taking the movie in a full, perfect circle to start a fresh.
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According to The Disney Blog, the whole new soundtrack and movie score “has many loving homages to the original music from the Sherman Brothers”.
All of the characters will show of their voices, alongside Blunt, with Meryl Streep even taking to the recording studio for songs that are said to echo the tone and sound of the originals.
A key part of the first movie is the moment Mary, Bert and the Banks kids step into one of Bert’s beautiful paintings and find themselves in a magical cartoon world full of funny animals and live carousels.
And producers have ensured the new movie has its own second world too, with Mary this time joining Jack and Michael’s young kids as they get surrounded by cartoon flowers before descending once again into a different world. It’s unclear how alike the worlds will be at this stage, but it’s safe to say there will be nods to the original throughout the new cartoon world.
They’ll certainly have their work cut out beating Bert’s memorable penguin dance!