10:26pm ET
Walt Disney Studio's Mary Poppins Returns has begun pre-production at the U. K.'s Shepperton Studios.
The sequel to the 1964 classic features Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) and co-stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Colin Firth & Meryl Streep. Young actors Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and Joel Dawson will play the three new Banks children. Dick Van Dyke, who started in the original, is also set to make an appearance in the film.
Behind the camera is Director Rob Marshall, writer David Magee and producers John DeLuca & Marc Platt.
With the cast and crew starting production, new plot details have also been revealed via press release:
"Michael (Whishaw) and Jane (Mortimer) are now grown up, with Michael, his three children and their housekeeper, Ellen (Walters), living on Cherry Tree Lane," Walt Disney Studios said. "After Michael suffers a personal loss, the enigmatic nanny Mary Poppins re-enters the lives of the Banks family, and, along with the optimistic street lamplighter Jack (Miranda), uses her unique magical skills to help the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives."
Along the way, Blunt's character will also introduce the Banks children "to a new assortment of colorful and whimsical characters, including her eccentric cousin, Topsy (Streep)."
The film will also feature all new original songs.
Watch Emily Blunt talk with Glamour Magazine about being Julie Andrews' successor (skip to 1:35):
Mary Poppins Returns hits theaters in December 2018.