Sources tell Variety, the Oscar-winning actress is in talks to join Emily Blunt and Lin Manuel-Miranda in Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns.”
Streep is said to play the role of Poppins’ cousin, Topsy, a supporting role that wasn’t included in the original film. Streep would also sing for the part, much like she did in “Into the Woods,” which earned her a record 19th Oscar nomination.
The Mary Poppins sequel hits theaters Dec. 25, 2017.
David Magee wrote the screenplay, based on the stories by P.L. Travers, with Marc Shaiman composing an all-new score and writing originals songs with Emmy nominee and Tony-winner Scott Wittman.
Ben Whishaw, who played Q in the Daniel Craig James Bond movies, is in negotiations to join Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda in Disney’s sequel to Mary Poppins.
The movie, titled Mary Poppins Returns, already has Meryl Streep in talks to join the call sheet.
Rob Marshall is directing the film, which will be set 25 years after events in the 1964 classic.
Whishaw will play the character of a grown-up Michael Banks, who is a key figure in the new story. Banks experiences a personal loss and sees the return of his big sister Jane. That results in the arrival of the magical Mary Poppins (Blunt), who teams up with her lamplighter friend Jack (Miranda) to help the family.
Marshall, John DeLuca and Marc Platt are producing the project, which will shoot in early 2017 in London. The movie has a Dec. 25, 2018, release date.
It’s a straight up sequel. 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. 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 shit happens.'
That article also confirms Meryl Streep is signed on to play Topsy, Mary's cousin.
