The "Mary Poppins" sequel has added Lin-Manuel Miranda to its cast. The "Hamilton" star will join Emily Blunt, who has been picked to play the titular role. Disney announced the choices when the company revealed its planned line-up of live-action movies for the next four years.
Broadway reports that Lin-Manuel Miranda, who created the Pulitzer Prize-winning theater presentation of "Hamilton," will be playing a new character named Jack. He's described as a lamplighter, and Mary Poppins' friend.
Apart from acting and starring in the film, Disney also tapped Lin-Manuel Miranda to create some of the songs and musical score for the sequel. The actor, composer and musical genius has dealt with Disney in the past when he was asked to create music for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," per Variety.
'Mary Poppins' Sequel Plot Details: Who Is Jack?
Previous talks in February revealed that the character of Jack is similar to Bert, who was the male starring role in the 1964 "Mary Poppins." Dick Van Dyke played the character.
The "Mary Poppins" sequel will follow 20 years after the original film's timeline and will take on a different story. It will focus on the grown-up versions of Jane and Michael Banks, Mary Poppins' wards. Not only that, but it will have the iconic nanny teaming up with Jack to help the Banks again, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Lin-Manuel Miranda joins Emily Blunt in new Mary Poppins film https://t.co/2gKmPFcmCI pic.twitter.com/xbYDkVdjw3
— West End Frame (@West_End_Frame) April 26, 2016
'Mary Poppins' Sequel Behind The Scenes
Rob Marshall, who directed the movie musical "Into the Woods" in 2014, will helm the new "Mary Poppins." The sequel will be based on the other books written by P.L. Travers about the character.
Also tasked to create music for "Mary Poppins" aside from Lin-Manuel Miranda are Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. The duo is behind "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" on Broadway and the TV-to-stage adaptation of "Bombshell" from "Smash."
It's still unclear when Disney is planning to have the "Mary Poppins" sequel in theaters. However, the studio has already reserved some June to August and December holiday dates for the release of nine of its upcoming movies from 2017 to 2019, per The Wrap.
