OK! We all know “Mary Poppins” from Disney released in 1964 featuring Julie Andrews and Dick van Dyke. We also know that Michael Jackson was a fan having some memorabilia at his Neverland Ranch and watching the stage show in London with his children.
In 1965, and with the success of the movie, Walt wanted to immediately launch a sequel but Walt died in 1966 and the project of Mary Poppins 2 disappeared for years until the mid-80s.
Brian Sibley, a writer for the BBC was to write the sequel with Pamela Lyndon Travers, the author of “Mary Poppins”. But casting the film was a challenge! Julie Andrews was contacted but never called back and they needed to find a new Bert originally played by van Dyke. The character was not present in the new movie but his brother came to life.
During this phase, Sibley remembered that the production team suggested …. Michael Jackson to play Bret’s brother.
Michael Jackson was already known for his dancing and Thriller was just released so he was actually perfect for the role!
But the casting issues was never resolved and stopped by the new directions at Disney Studios with new president Jeffrey Katzenberg.
The production team tried to push Katzenberg to get the green light to start production of Mary Poppins 2 but Katzemberg had ideas of his own: He wanted to redirect the story to show the Banks’ kids as adults and a older Mary Poppins. But Travers was not bought on the idea and the negotiation were so hard that Disney Studios decided to shelve the project.
Travers died in 1996 and with new directions at Disney, in 2015 the project came back from the vaults and “Mary Poppins Returns” came to life with Emily Blunt as Mary and the movie was released in 2018, 54 years after the original movie.
Now we can only imagine what the 80s version of Mary Poppins could have looked like with Michael Jackson, becoming the biggest star on the planet, playing in one of the most loved Disney Live action movies.
It is also not known if Michael himself knew he was considered in the casting of the 80s version of Mary Poppins.
SOURCE: AlloCine
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