Who Should Lead Disney's Live-Action MARY POPPINS? Hathaway, Blunt Are Current Favorites

As BWW reported earlier this week, Variety revealed that Rob Marshall (Into the Woods, Chicago) will direct a Disney reboot of their classic 1964 film, MARY POPPINS. The project will be produced by John DeLuca and Marc Platt. The film will reportedly take place 20 years after the events of the original movie, and will include "storylines from the P.L. Travers' children books focusing on the magical nanny's continued adventures with the Banks family."

In addition, EW reported that Broadway vets Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray, Smash, Catch Me If You Can) will write the score and Finding Neverland's David Magee will write the screenplay. Casting has not yet been announced.

Today, EW reports that BoyleSports, an Ireland-based online betting firm, has shared that Oscar-winner Anne Hathaway leads the race as favorite actress to take on the role of the iconic nanny, with 6/4 odds.

Other actresses in "contention," according to the firm are INTO THE WOODS' Emily Blunt (5/2), ENCHANTED's Amy Adams (7/2), FROZEN's Kristen Bell (11/2), and INTO THE WOODS' Anna Kendrick (10/1). Additonal contenders who made the list include LES MISERABLES' Amanda Seyfried (12/1), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (16/1), GLEE's Lea Michele (33/1), and PITCH PERFECT's Anna Camp (50/1).

Who would you like to see cast in the role?

1964's MARY POPPINS feature film was directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Walt Disney, with songs written and composed by the Sherman Brothers. The screenplay was by Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi, loosely based on P. L. Travers' book series of the same name.

The film, which combined live-action and animation, starred Julie Andrews in the titular role of a magical nanny who visits a dysfunctional family in London and employs her unique brand of lifestyle to improve the family's dynamic. Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, and Glynis Johns are featured in supporting roles. The film was shot entirely at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California.

Mary Poppins was released on August 27, 1964 to universal acclaim, receiving a total of thirteen Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture-an unsurpassed record for any other film released by Walt Disney Studios-and won five; Best Actress for Andrews, Best Film Editing, Best Original Music Score, Best Visual Effects, and Best Original Songfor "Chim Chim Cher-ee".

In 2006, a musical version opened on Broadway and played for 2619 performances. Produced by Walt Disney Theatrical and directed by Richard Eyre with co-direction from Matthew Bourne who also acted as co-choreographer with Stephen Mear, the original West End production opened in December 2004 and received two Olivier Awards, one for Best Actress in a Musical and the other for Best Theatre Choreography. The Broadway production with a near-identical creative team opened with only minor changes from the West End version. It received seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, winning for Best Scenic Design.

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