Colin Firth is in negotiations to play William Weatherall Wilkins, president of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank, in Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns,” TheWrap has learned.
Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep and Lin Manuel-Miranda have already been cast in the film.
Emily Mortimer was also recently cast in Disney’s live-action musical. The English actress will play Jane Banks in the film, being directed by Rob Marshall.
Her character will be featured alongside Michael (to be played by Ben Whishaw), as they portray the children cared for by famed nanny Mary Poppins.
Meryl Streep was previously cast as a cousin of Poppins.
Blunt will star as Mary Poppins and will be joined by “Hamilton” creator Miranda, who plays a new character, a streetlamp lighter named Jack, who shares similarities with Dick Van Dyke‘s character from the original movie.
The project will reunite Blunt and Streep with Marshall — who directed 2014’s “Into the Woods.”
Drawing from the wealth of material in P.L. Travers’ additional seven novels, the movie musical is set in Depression-era London.
The sequel will follow adult 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.
Marshall will produce alongside John DeLuca and Marc Platt. The screenplay will be written by David Magee, based on “The Mary Poppins Stories” by P.L. Travers. Marc Shaiman will compose the score, and write original songs with Scott Wittman.
“Mary Poppins” first entered pop culture through P.L. Travers’ 1934 book, which Disney adapted for the screen and released in August 1964. The film, starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, won five Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Andrews.
Disney has slated the follow up to the 1964 classic for a Christmas Day 2018 release.