One of the world’s most cherished characters is about to take flight once more.

EW has learned that Disney is developing a new original live-action musical film featuring the beloved magical nanny, Mary Poppins. The studio is bringing back Into the Woods director Rob Marshall and producers John DeLuca and Marc Platt, who successfully shepherded Stephen Sondheim’s Broadway tuner to the big screen for Disney last year.

The new Poppins film will take place in Depression-era London, some 20 years after Disney’s classic Mary Poppins, and will draw from existing Poppins tales in the rest of author P.L. Travers’ 1934-1988 children’s book series. The practically perfect 1964 screen adaptation starring Julie Andrews pulled its story primarily from the first installment in Travers’ eight-book series; the new project (which is decidedly not being developed as a sequel) will explore Mary’s further adventures with the Banks family and beyond as illustrated by Travers’ seven additional novels.

With Marshall helming, songwriting duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray, Smash) are on board to compose original songs and a new score; David Magee (Finding Neverland, Life of Pi) is attached to write the screenplay.

Disney and Marshall are collaborating with the Travers estate and have already earned support from Poppins’ co-composer Richard Sherman, who penned the original film’s famous songs like “Chim Chim Cher-ee” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” with his late brother, Robert.

Marshall, DeLuca, and Platt remain some of Hollywood’s most active musical players. Marshall’s 2002 Oscar-winning Best Picture, Chicago, is largely credited with ushering in a modern resurgence of the genre; he and DeLuca also collaborated on 2009’s Nine before taking on Into the Woods in 2014. Platt is presently producing Fox’s Grease: Live and another original musical, La La Land, starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. As a key producer of Broadway’s Wicked, he has also long been involved in developing a feature film adaptation of the show.

The world of Mary Poppins was most recently revived onscreen with 2013’s Saving Mr. Banks, which told the story of Travers’ meetings with Walt Disney in the early ’60s as he persuaded her to put Poppins to film.

Emily Blunt in Talks to Play Mary Poppins in Disney Sequel (EXCLUSIVE)
FEBRUARY 18, 2016 | 02:35PM PT
Justin Kroll
Film Reporter
@krolljvar

Emily Blunt is in talks to star in Disney’s sequel to “Mary Poppins” with Rob Marshall set to direct.

John DeLuca and Marc Platt will serve as producers on the pic. Sources say Blunt has always been the favorite since all four worked together on “Into the Woods.” With Disney looking to get the film into production soon, the studio recently met with the actress to discuss the idea of playing the magical nanny.

The deal is not yet set in stone due to scheduling. News also recently broke that she is expecting her second child and that may play into her decision.

Insiders confirm the new film will take place in Depression-era London 20 years after the first film and will take story lines from P.L. Travers’ children books focusing on the magical nanny’s continued adventures with the Banks family.

The original film starred Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in the story of a nanny who came to work for a banker’s unhappy family in pre-World War I England. The film was a huge hit, grossing $100 million at the box office, and earned five Oscars including one for Andrews as best actress.

Disney has reaped rewards recently by turning classic animated pics like “Alice in Wonderland” and “Cinderella” into live action hits, and is now turning its attention to its collection of live-action films.

Blunt has shown her range in comedies like “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Five Year Engagement,” action-heavy pics like “Sicario” and “Edge of Tomorrow” and adult dramas like the upcoming “The Girl on the Train.” Blunt can be seen next in “The Huntsman: Winter’s War.”

She is repped by CAA and The Artists Partnership.

‘Hamilton’s’ Lin-Manuel Miranda in Talks for ‘Mary Poppins’ Sequel (EXCLUSIVE)
FEBRUARY 24, 2016 | 10:28AM PT
Justin Kroll
Film Reporter
@krolljvar

“Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda is in talks to co-star with Emily Blunt in Disney’s “Mary Poppins” sequel.

Miranda is in talks to play Jack, a lamplighter resembling the character of Bert, who was famously played by Dick Van Dyke in the 1964 classic.

John DeLuca and Marc Platt will serve as producers on the pic with “Into the Woods” helmer Rob Marshall directing the film.

Insiders confirm the new film will take place in Depression-era London (when the books were originally written and 20 years after the first film was set) and will take story lines from P.L. Travers’ books focusing on Poppins’ continued adventures with the Banks family.

The original film starred Julie Andrews and Van Dyke in the story of a nanny who came to work for a banker’s unhappy family in pre-World War I England. The film was a huge hit, grossing $100 million at the box office, and earned five Oscars, including one for Andrews as best actress.

The studio already has strong ties with Miranda, who helped compose original music for “Star Wars: the Force Awakens” as well as their upcoming animated tale “Moana.”

Miranda is not only the star of “Hamilton” — he also penned the musical’s script and songs. He’s expected to play a part in developing new songs for the Poppins sequel as well.

He is repped by WME.

Walt Disney Pictures have officially announced that Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda are set to star in their “Mary Poppins” sequel and have also dated the pic for December 25, 2018.

Variety first reported that both Blunt and Miranda were in talks for the film, titled “Mary Poppins Returns.”

Reuniting the director and producing team behind Disney’s hit musical “Into the Woods,” the film will be directed by Rob Marshall and produced by Marshall, John DeLuca and Marc Platt.

“The iconic original film means so much to me personally, and I look forward to creating an original movie musical that can bring Mary Poppins, and her message that childlike wonder can be found in even the most challenging of times, to a whole new generation,” says Marshall.

David Magee will pen the screenplay, based on The Mary Poppins Stories by P.L. Travers, with Marc Shaiman composing an all-new score and Shaiman and Emmy nominee and Tony Award winner Scott Wittman writing original songs.

Blunt has been cast as Mary Poppins and Miranda will play a new character, a street lamplighter named Jack. Drawing from the wealth of material in P.L. Travers’ seven additional novels, the story will take place in Depression-era London (when the books were originally written) and follows a now-grown Jane and Michael Banks, who, along with Michael’s three children, are visited by the enigmatic Mary Poppins following a personal loss. Through her unique magical skills, and with the aid of her friend Jack, she helps the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives.

Disney recently confirmed that it is planning to make “Cruella,” an “101 Dalmatians” spin-off with Emma Stone, as well as sequels to “Jungle Book” and “Maleficent.”