A new television adaptation of Mary Poppins is reportedly in development, aiming to capture the more complex and mysterious aspects of the character as depicted in P.L. Travers' original series of novels. Tom Winchester, a producer known for the FX series Shōgun, has optioned the rights to the books from the Travers estate.
The project intends to diverge from the whimsical musicality associated with Disney's iconic 1964 film, which P.L. Travers herself reportedly found to be a significant departure from her work. The new series will reportedly explore the darker and more nuanced elements present in the original eight books, portraying Mary Poppins as a more enigmatic figure.
Winchester is currently seeking showrunners for the series through his production company, Pure Fiction Television. The company is backed by See-Saw Films, known for The Power of the Dog and Slow Horses, and the British talent agency Hamilton Hodell.
While Disney has a long-standing association with the character through its film and stage musical adaptations, including 2018's Mary Poppins Returns starring Emily Blunt, their direct involvement in this new series is not yet confirmed. However, Winchester is reportedly in talks with the company, with hopes they might join the project given their history with the property.