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With director Rob Marshall’s Mary Poppins Returns now playing in theaters, I recently sat down with Lin-Manuel Miranda to talk about making the hugely anticipated sequel. During the wide-ranging conversation, Miranda talked about how the animated Little Mermaid movie helped get him into musicals, what it was like working with the kids -- including sharing a fun Easter egg to watch out for -- what it’s like working for Rob Marshall, and more. In addition, with Marshall and Miranda also collaborating on the live-action version of The Little Mermaid, he talked about his love of the original film and what he might be doing on the upcoming version.

As most of you know, Mary Poppins Returns is the follow-up to the 1964 classic that sees Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) coming back into the life of the Banks family after they suffer a loss. Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane (Emily Mortimer) are now adults, but Mary, with the help of her friend, lamplighter Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), has come to bring some joy and order into the life of Michael’s three children. The film also stars Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury, Julie Walters, David Warner, and Dick Van Dyke.

Check out what Lin-Manuel Miranda had to say in the player above and below is exactly what we talked about followed by the official synopsis.

Lin-Manuel Miranda:

• Did he create Hamilton so he could sign an exclusive contract with Walt Disney Studios?

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  How The Little Mermaid helped get him into musicals.
• As a huge fan of The Little Mermaid, what does it mean to be writing original songs for the upcoming movie?
• What was it like working with the kids?
• He reveals a fun Easter egg to look out for regarding the kids and cotton candy.
• How Rob Marshall makes you feel like you can do anything.

Here’s the official synopsis for Mary Poppins Returns:

In Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns,” an all new original musical and sequel, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives following a personal loss. Emily Blunt stars as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any ordinary task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure and Lin-Manuel Miranda plays her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light—and life—to the streets of London.