Los Angeles, Feb 19 (IANS): Actress Emily Blunt might play the title role in upcoming sequel of 1964 musical fantasy film “Mary Poppins”.

The film will be directed by Rob Marshall.

According to sources, Blunt has always been the favourite for the role since she starred in Marshall's 2014 film “Into the Woods”, reports variety.com.

With Disney Pictures looking to get the film into production soon, the studio met with the actress sometime back to discuss the idea of playing the magical nanny.

The deal is not yet set in stone due to scheduling as Blunt is reportedly expecting her second child, and that may play into her decision.

Insiders confirm the new film will take place in Depression-era London 20 years after the first film and will take story lines from P.L. Travers’s children books focusing on Poppins’s continued adventures with the Banks family.

The original 1964 film starred Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in the story of a nanny who came to work for a banker’s unhappy family in pre-World War I England.

The film was a huge hit, grossing $100 million at the box office, and earned five Oscars, including one for Andrews as best actress.