Disney have well and truly dropped the mother load of news today, with the confirmation of several long-speculated projects.
Chief among the studio’s green-lit announcements is the news that Emily Blunt will indeed be taking on the iconic role of Mary Poppins in a new sequel, directed by Into The Woods‘ Rob Marshall.
Emma Stone has also been confirmed to play Cruella De Vil.
The long-brewing musical sequel – which does not yet have an official title – will take place 20 years after the original film, which starred Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in the leading roles. Hamilton‘s Lin Manuel Miranda has also been confirmed to star alongside Blunt in the new film.
Meanwhile, it has also been confirmed that Emma Stone will be reinventing 101 Dalmatians’ infamous villain, Cruella De Vil, in a new live-action origin story, written by Saving Mr Banks‘ Kelly Marcel. Reese Witherspoon has also been given the green light for a new live-action Tinker Bell spin-off.
The studio has also commissioned sequels for Maleficent and The Jungle Book, with Angelina Jolie returning for the former. Other previously-rumoured projects which have now been confirmed include Tim Burton’s re-imagining of Dumbo, Ava Du Vernay’s A Wrinkle In Time, Dwayne Johnson’s action-adventure epic, Jungle Cruise and The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.
Disney announced these projects whilst also claiming five new release dates – three unnamed ‘fairy tales’ will arrive on 22nd December 2017/6th April 2018/20th December 2019, while two more ‘live-action’ projects will be released on 3rd August 2018/25th December 2018.
