A Mary Poppins TV series is in the works, and this one will look a lot less like the practically perfect nanny from the Disney classic.
Deadline reports that a live-action series based on P.L. Travers’ original eight Mary Poppins books is in early development. Rather than retelling the 1964 film, the show plans to lean into the more complex, mysterious, and at times frightening elements of the novels. In the books, Mary is stricter, more vain, and far less gentle than Julie Andrews’ beloved screen version.
The project is being developed and produced by Tom Winchester for Pure Fiction Television, his indie studio backed by See-Saw Films (Slow Horses, Heartstopper) and UK talent agency Hamilton Hodell. Winchester optioned the rights from the trustees of the Travers estate and is now approaching showrunners. No writer, cast, or network is attached yet.
Disney does not need to be involved for the series to move forward, since the rights came directly from the estate, but Deadline notes that very early-stage conversations are taking place with the studio given its long history with the character.
The 1964 Mary Poppins remains one of Disney’s most beloved films and earned Julie Andrews an Academy Award. Emily Blunt took over the role in 2018’s Mary Poppins Returns, and the stage musical adaptation ran on Broadway from 2006 to 2013.