Mary Poppins 2: Dick Van Dyke is going to be in the sequel

He memorably played chimney sweep Bert in the 1964 original

An official Mary Poppins sequel is on the way and Disney has been hard at work assembling a suitably impressive cast for what it's hoping will be a box office smash.

The cast is suitably British with Emily Blunt, Ben Whishaw Colin Firth, Emily Mortimer and Angela Lansbury all heading up the cast alongside Meryl Streep and Hamilton star Lin Manuel-Miranda.

Capping this is one of the 1964 classic's original stars who has just confirmed his appearance; chimney sweep Bert himself Dick Van Dyke will reprise his role for the follow-up.

The 91-year-old told Entertainment Tonight: "I'll be going to London in the spring to do my role, and I get to do a little song and dance number. I gotta be a part of it."

As you'd expect, fans are beside themselves with excitement.

Blunt will take on the role made famous by Julie Andrews Firth is playing the incredibly British-sounding William Weatherall Wilkins, the president of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank (really.) Whishaw is expected to play a grown up Michael Banks in a story that'll see him reunited with both his sister Jane and the titular magical nanny after a personal loss.

Mary Poppins Returns will be directed by Rob Marshall, the filmmaker who most recently oversaw Disney's adaptation of Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods. It'll be released Christmas Day 2018.

Firth recently told The Independent that he'd be up for starring in a sequel to seasonal favourite Love, Actually should Richard Curtis decide to make another one.