Mary Poppins 3 should feature fight for gay rights, director says
Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins Returns
Mary Poppins Returns director Rob Marshall has teased the prospect of a modern-day Mary Poppins 3 featuring LGBT+ activism.
In an interview with The Advocate, the gay director was asked about the possibility of a Mary Poppins 3 that shows the Banks family involved in the fight for LGBT+ rights.
The original Mary Poppins, which was set in 1910, featured Winifred Banks (Glynis Johns) fighting for women’s right to vote, while sequel Mary Poppins Returns, set in the 1930s, saw Jane Banks (Emily Mortimer) working as a labour organiser.
Mary Poppins 3 gay rights film ‘exactly what should be happening’
Speaking about the prospect of a future film focusing on LGBT+ rights, he said: “Wouldn’t that’d be great? Please, Lord. That’s exactly what should be happening.
“I’m always so aware of that, being a gay man myself. I mean, our movie takes place in the ’30s.
Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins Returns.
“But if it were to take place now, that’s exactly what it should be. I understand so deeply what it’s like to be on the outskirts and not feel like you are worthy.
“And I will say that kind of passion to explore acceptance in life is something that’s so important. And so, yes, I’d be all for that, for sure.”
Mary Poppins Returns director explains focus on workers’ rights
Marshall explained why Mary Poppins Returns continued the original film’s tradition of addressing movements of social change, saying: “My intention was to create a profound film that deals with loss, [not only of] a family member, but also the loss of wonder and joy in one’s life.
“I wanted to root it in a real place. That’s why Jane works for the rights of workers. This is the ’30s, the Depression era when it was the great slump.
“There was a sadness in the world and [Mary Poppins] needs to come back. We had to come up with a real reason for her to come back.”
He added: “I feel like that time of the Depression era reflects our time now, in a way. People need to be reminded. They need to remember.
“You wake up to the most horrific news every day and you’re looking for a way to move forward in life. And how do you do that? It’s how you perceive things. From what angle? Can you see the beauty and joy in life and can you find that?
“Otherwise, it’s just a dark life. That’s how I choose to live personally. It was a very personal film for me for that reason.”
The character of Mary Poppins is established as a magical being who does not age, which means the prospect of a Mary Poppins 3 set decades later is not as far-fetched as it sounds.
