The Cast & Crew of “Mary Poppins Returns”

By Melanie Gable

*Hi, everyone! I’m so excited that Erin invited me to guest write for her blog! I attended the press junket for “Mary Poppins Returns” for the purposes of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

The Montage Beverly Hills was decked out in sparkling holiday decor on November 28, but the hotel became even more magical when the cast and crew of Walt Disney Studios’ “Mary Poppins Returns” held a press conference to talk about the process of making the enchanting new film.

Directed by Rob Marshall (“Into the Woods,” “Chicago”), this all-new, original musical is a sequel of sorts to Disney’s Oscar-winning “Mary Poppins,” which was released in 1964 and starred Julie Andrews in the titular role. “Mary Poppins Returns” revisits the charming setting of the first film, Cherry Tree Lane, but it is now the 1930s, and Jane and Michael Banks are adults navigating their way through “The Great Slump,” a time of economic downturn in England. Emily Blunt steps gracefully into the Poppins role, with Broadway superstar Lin-Manuel Miranda as Jack the Lamplighter, and Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer as grown-up siblings Michael and Jane Banks.

In the ballroom waiting area of the Montage, members of the press, bloggers, and special guests were treated to animated photo ops and a close look at some of the gorgeous costumes from the film, including several that were hand-painted by costume designer Sandy Powell. In the ballroom itself, a lovely scene was set for the film’s luminaries, with faux cherry trees adorning the stage and a bright blue backdrop featuring the movie’s title.

Producer Marc Platt served as the moderator for the conference and introduced the cast and crew in attendance:

• Emily Blunt (“Mary Poppins”)
• Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Jack”)
• Ben Whishaw (“Michael Banks”)
• Emily Mortimer (“Jane Banks”)
• Director Rob Marshall
• Producer John DeLuca
• Composer Marc Shaiman
• Lyricist Scott Wittman
• Screenwriter David Magee

Platt began by asking Marshall why he chose to direct “Mary Poppins Returns.” Throughout the conference the cast and crew expressed how influential the original “Mary Poppins” had been on their respective childhoods, and Marshall was no different. “I really felt like I have that film, as many of us on this panel do, in our blood. And I wanted to be able to, in an odd way, protect the first film and treat this film with great care and love,” said Marshall. He also shared that it was “a dream” to be at helm of an all-new musical, and create it from scratch.

As for the role of Mary Poppins, Marshall gushed that there was “not another person on this planet who could have played that part” than Emily Blunt. Marshall directed Blunt in Disney’s film version of “Into the Woods,” so they have a history of collaborating on musical projects. When it came time to cast the movie, Marshall called Blunt and told her they’d been digging through the Disney archives and were returning to the company’s “most prized possession.” After keeping Blunt guessing for a bit, Marshall revealed that it was “Mary Poppins” and Blunt said, “the air changed in the room.” It was an extraordinary moment for her, and she said she instantly wanted to play the role. But her acceptance was with trepidation, because Mary Poppins is so iconic and has had such a profound impact on her life and the lives of so many others. “People hold this character so close to their hearts,” Blunt began, “And so, you know, how do I create my version of her? What will my version of her be because…no one wants to see me do a sort of cheap impersonation of Julie Andrews, because no one is Julie Andrews. And so she should be preserved and treasured in her own way of what she did.”

Blunt found inspiration for her own portrayal of Mary Poppins by turning to P.L. Travers’ books, which were “a huge springboard and enormously helpful” to her. Blunt loved the duality of the character – Poppins’ laughably quirky and off-putting characteristics, like vanity, sharpness, and occasional downright rudeness, paired with her deep empathy, altruism, and kindness. “She has to herself have such a childlike wonder in her in order to want to infuse these children’s lives with it, and there must under there be a generosity of spirit to want to fix and heal in the way that she does,” Blunt observed about the character. Marshall and Blunt talked frequently about Mary Poppins in the year and a half before they started rehearsing the movie, and they both shared the desire to capture the many nuances and layers of the character. Plus, Blunt joked, Poppins is “probably a bit of an adrenaline junkie…she loves these adventures.” Blunt described the role as “delicious,” and relished the opportunity to play such an enigmatic character.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, who plays Jack the Lamplighter in the movie, is best known as the writer and star of the smash-hit Broadway musical “Hamilton.” Truly a triple threat (or, more accurately, a quintuple threat?), Miranda is a playwright, composer, lyricist, singer/rapper, and actor with a slew of accolades under his belt, including Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Tony Awards, and even a Pulitzer Prize. Miranda also co-wrote the beautiful songs in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana,” and even showcased his vocal skills on the film’s soundtrack. Though Miranda has appeared in multiple T.V. shows and movies, “Mary Poppins Returns” marks his first starring film role.

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