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With Mary Poppins Returns now playing in theaters, I recently sat down with director Rob Marshall to talk about making the hugely anticipated sequel. During the wide-ranging conversation, he revealed why he signed an overall deal at Walt Disney Studios, the challenges he faced in the editing room, why it’s always hard to find the way in and out of a musical number, deleted scenes, and more. In addition, with Marshall helming The Little Mermaid live-action adaptation, he talked about where they are in the production process.

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Image via Disney

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 Rob Marshall had to say in the player above and below is exactly what we talked about followed by the official synopsis.

Rob Marshall:

  • Talks about why he signed an overall deal at Walt Disney Studios
  • What was it like in the editing room when cutting Mary Poppins Returns?
  • Talks about the challenge of getting into a musical number and then out of one.
  • Deleted scenes talk.
  • What’s the status of The Little Mermaid live-action adaptation?

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.

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Image via Disney
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Image via Disney

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