Emily Blunt snapped filming Mary Poppins Returns as London goes back in time

Old fashioned Routemasters and handsome old sports cars took over the streets around the Royal Exchange over the weekend, filming scenes of the Mary Poppins sequel.

Emily Blunt, taking over the role of Poppins from the legendary Julie Andrews, was on-set for the scenes in the City of London.

Both the Bank of England and the Royal Exchange were also locations featured in the first movie, made in 1964 with Andrews and Dick van Dyke, while this movie is set 25 years later, in 1935, during the Great Depression.

Speaking of which, we’ve also now had our first look at Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda’s character Jack, who appears to be cut of a similar cloth to Van Dyke’s sweep Burt.

Jack is a lamp lighter, but perhaps only in the loose sense that Burt was a chimney sweep (he was also a street artist, a kite salesman and a one-man band).

Meanwhile, Ben Whishaw plays the grown-up Michael Banks, now married with three children, with Emily Mortimer as his sister Jane.

Meryl Streep plays Mary Poppins’ cousin Topsy, while Dick Van Dyke is to make a cameo as Mr. Dawes Jr.

There are also roles for Julie Walters, Colin Firth, and another cameo for screen legend Angela Lansbury.

Helmed by esteemed screen musical director Rob Marshall (he of ‘Chicago’ and ‘Into The Woods’ fame), it’s due out at Christmas, 2018.

Read more:
Emma Watson hits back at those branding her a feminist hypocrite
Critics’ reactions to Beauty and the Beast are mixed
How Rogue One should’ve ended