Colin Firth in talks to invest tuppence inMary Poppins Returns
Another sophisticated Brit is joining the world of magical nannies.
EW has learned Colin Firth is in talks to join the cast of Disney’s upcoming Mary Poppins Returns, which stars Emily Blunt as the titular caretaker and Lin-Manuel Miranda as a whimsical street lamplighter named Jack.
Firth will play William Weatherall Wilkins, the balloon-obsessed gentleman manager of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank, which once employed Mr. Banks. Variety first reported the news.
Of course, Mary Poppins Returns takes place 25 years after the original, so Mr. Banks is likely not in the picture these days. Instead, the Depression-era story follows Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane (Emily Mortimer) as they find themselves reunited with their one-time magical nanny after a recent tragedy. Meryl Streep will also costar as Mary's cousin, Topsy.
David Magee (Life of Pi) has written the script. Rob Marshall (Into the Woods) will direct as well as produce alongside Marc Platt and John DeLuca.
Mary Poppins Returns arrives in theaters on Christmas Day in 2018.
