Original 'Mary Poppins' actor Dick Van Dyke joins Lin-Manuel Miranda for sequel
Dick Van Dyke says he'll be back for the upcoming 'Poppins' sequel, which will be released in 2018. Unlike the various live-action takes on animated movies that Disney has planned, this new 'Poppins' movie continues the story.
'Mary Poppins' stars Dick Van Dyke (l.), Karen Dotrice (second from l.), Matthew Garber (second from r.), and Julie Andrews (r.).
AP/File
鈥淢ary Poppins鈥� actor Dick Van Dyke is returning to that fictional world for another step in time.聽
Mr. Van Dyke has said he will appear in the upcoming 鈥淢ary Poppins鈥� sequel from Disney, 鈥淢ary Poppins Returns,鈥� which stars Emily Blunt in the title role alongside Meryl Streep and 鈥淗amilton鈥� creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Van Dyke starred with Julie Andres in the original 1964 musical about a magical nanny who takes a British family under her wing, appearing as both chimney sweep Bert and banker Mr. Dawes. Now, Van Dyke said in a recent interview, he will portray the son of Mr. Dawes.聽
鈥淚 got to be a part of it,鈥� . He noted that while he donned a beard and other makeup to portray Mr. Dawes originally, 鈥淭his time there's no four hours in the makeup chair,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 grew into the part.鈥澛�
Van Dyke also confirmed that he "get[s] to do a little song and dance number" in the new film.
The new movie will take place decades after the first and, , will center on an older Michael Banks, who now has a family and needs the aid of both his older sister, Jane, and their childhood nanny, Mary Poppins.聽
Disney is planning plenty of riffs on its older properties, including a live-action version of their animated hit 鈥淏eauty and the Beast鈥� that鈥檚 set to come out in March 2017. But unlike that and past box office successes like this year鈥檚 鈥淭he Jungle Book" and 2015鈥檚 鈥淐inderella,鈥� the upcoming movie is not a live-action recreation of the original movie but a continuation of the earlier story.聽
鈥淢ary Poppins Returns鈥� will come out almost two years from now 鈥� it鈥檚 scheduled to hit theaters in December, a release spot previously occupied by 鈥淚nto the Woods,鈥� another Disney musical directed by 鈥淢ary Poppins Returns鈥� helmer Rob Marshall.