Despite her creator almost definitely rolling in her grave at the prospect, Mary Poppins is about to get a sequel, some fifty years after the classic was released.
P.L. Travers, author of the book in which the character made her bow, would not be delighted to hear that Disney were moving forward with plans for a follow-up movie that would take place twenty years after the events of the original. Rob Marshall of the incredibly ‘meh’ Into the Woods will be directing.
However, no film would be possible if not for the blessing of her estate, who have agreed to let the project go ahead. The co-songwriter of Mary Poppins, Richard Sherman, has given the idea a thumbs up, but will not be returning to tinkle the ivories for it sequel.
Based on Travers’ series of books, the new story will revolve around Poppins returning to the Banks family during the Depression. There’s no scriptwriter just yet, though that’s not likely to last with such a hot property – wouldn’t you want to give some right old cockney slang a go at scribing?
Even though it’s in the early days, there’s still a lot to be concerned about here. Call me cynical, but I really don’t see the point. Disney’s recent obsession with pushing out sequels and rehashing old licenses makes them one of them biggest culprits of creative laziness out there and the news of them creating a sequel to a long dormant license isn’t going to bring them back to being the pioneers they once were.
Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site.
