Written by Devon Biroczky! Mary Poppins Returns Press Conference
A couple of weeks ago, I was asked a difficult question – I was being asked to cover the Mary Poppins Returns screening and junket. Now don’t get me wrong, I was and always am happy to be considered to cover these events. On the other hand, this was a different situation. When I was young, I was terrified of the original Mary Poppins. Like, genuinely frightened. Couldn’t tell you why, couldn’t tell you a specific scene that did it for me, but I was. However, agreeing to Mary Poppins Returns, directed by Rob Marshall, has definitely turned my view around.
First, we were invited to attend the screening of this film, but you’ll have to come back in a couple of days to read my review. Today, I want to talk about the junket. The press junket included the below talent:
- Emily Blunt (“Mary Poppins”)
- Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Jack”)
- Ben Whishaw (“Michael Banks”)
- Emily Mortimer (“Jane Banks”)
- Director Rob Marshall
- Marc Shaiman (Music by)
- Scott Wittman (Music by)
- Moderator: Producer Marc Platt
Kicking off the junket, Marc Platt asked Emily Blunt how this film and the role of Mary Poppins came about for her. She took the time to explain that she received a voicemail from Rob Marshall, that she described as having a “charged energy” to it. On the phone call, Rob told her, “You know, we’ve been digging through the Disney archives and, you know, we’ve been and by far their most prized possession…” leaving it hanging for just a moment before he said, “Mary Poppins.” Emily describes the moment, “I thought the air changed in the room. It was so extraordinary, such an extraordinary rather unparalleled moment for me because I was filled with an instantaneous yes, but also with some trepidation, you know, all happening simultaneously in that moment because she is so iconic.” Rob Marshall went on to say that Emily is the only person on this planet who could play this part, which I completely agree with.
For Lin-Manuel Miranda, this is his first big movie experience. He talks about how when he was still in Hamilton, Rob Marshall and John DeLuca offered to buy him a drink in between shows on a two show day. He explains that he finished the matinee and met them for a drink across the street. He tells us, “They said sequel to Mary Poppins, and I said ‘Who’s playing Mary Poppins?’ And they said Emily Blunt and I said, ‘Oh that’s good.’”
He goes on to tel us about the comparison between playing Alexander Hamilton (in Hamilton), and playing Jack here in Mary Poppins Returns. He says, “I mean, there is no childlike wonder in Alexander Hamilton. He has a very traumatic early life, […] whereas Jack in this movie as they pitched him to me has this childlike sense of wonder.”
Ben Whishaw (“Michael Banks”)
Emily Mortimer (“Jane Banks”)
One more question that really caught my attention came from a member of the press. Meryl Streep has a role in this movie as Cousin Topsy, where every second Wednesday her world turns upside down. On the other hand, Mary Poppins asks for the second Tuesday of every month off. Coincidence? Nope! Rob Marshall and David Magee talked about how they had to fit all of the events of the movie into the week while also keeping the connection with Mary Poppins and all of her cousins and family. They’re also from the books themselves!
Overall, this entire junket was such a great opportunity and a really enjoyable one at that. You can tell that the cast of this movie have really grown together and bonded, and you can just feel that as you talk to them or hear them answer your questions.
If you haven’t seen the trailer for Mary Poppins Returns yet, you can check it out below! And don’t forget to return here in just a couple of days to see my review on the film!
