Mary Poppins to return in new Disney movie set 20 years after original

The film will also be a musical like the hugely popular 1964 movie

Mary Poppins is set to return (Moviestore Collection/REX)

Disney is set to make a new Mary Poppins film, over half a century after the strict, yet much-loved, nanny first appeared on the silver screen.

The celebrated movie character will make her return in a live-action musical, Entertainment Weekly (EW) has reported.

Set in London during the Depression some 20 years after the first movie was set, the new film will also take from P. L. Traver’s children’s books where the character originated. However, the film will not be a sequel, according to EW.

Taking charge of the film’s score will be Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who have previously worked on hit musicals including Sixties-themed Hairspray, and the NBC drama series Smash, which explores Broadway musical theatre.

The details of who will take on the iconic role of Mary Poppins are yet to be revealed. However, the chosen actress certainly has big shoes to fill, as Julie Andrews earned an Oscar for her depiction as the magical, singing nurse.

A huge hit with both audiences and critics, the original film grossed $100million and won five Oscars, including Andrews’, thanks to its ground-breaking use of live action and animation, and infectious score.

The development of the new film follows the 2013 release of Saving Mr Banks, which documented the development of the 1964 movie.