SPECTRE star Ben Whishaw is reportedly in talks over a starring role in the Disney-produced sequel Mary Poppins Returns.
THR reports that the British actor will play a grown-up version of Michael Banks in the Rob Marshall directed picture which will be set 20 years after the 1964 film.
Emily Blunt (Looper) is attached to play the role of the iconic super-nanny played by the Oscar winning Julie Andrews in the first movie.
The character of Michael, who was youngest member of the Bank family in the classic original, will reportedly play a leading role in the new sequel.
Three-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep, who worked with director Marshall on Into The Woods, is also in negotiations over an unconfirmed role.
It’s fair to say that this is shaping up to be an absolute monster of a family blockbuster and could easily break $1 billion at the worldwide box office.
The follow-up’s story centres on Michael Banks who suffers a personal loss resulting in him being reunited with his sister in Jane and the magical Mary Poppins. Actor and musician Lin-Manuel Miranda is also attached to play the character of Poppin’s lamplighter friend Jack.
Whishaw has impressed as gadgets boffin Q in the hugely successful Daniel Craig-led James Bond films. The actor has also won praise for his performances in BBC miniseries London Spy and arthouse comedy, The Lobster.
Mary Poppins (1964) was a massive hit for Disney picking up five Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Andrews, grossing over $102 million worldwide.
Director Marshall seems like an obvious choice for the sequel having made his name in Hollywood helming big budget musicals such as Chicago, which won the Best Picture Oscar.
Mary Poppins Returns is scheduled to light up screens on Christmas Day, 2018.
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