The main cast of Mary Poppins Returns took another step towards completion as Emily Mortimer has joined in the role of Jane Banks. Ben Whishaw plays her brother Michael who along with Jane had their lives turned upside down as children by the magical nanny. Emily Blunt plays Poppins, who returns to Depression-era London after the Banks family experiences a personal tragedy. Meryl Streep and Lin-Manuel Miranda co-star with Rob Marshall directing. [Variety]
Nicholas Hoult has joined Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Shannon in The Current War, which already looks like a sure-fire Oscar contender for next year. Cumberbatch plays Thomas Edison with Shannon as George Westinghouse, rivals in the race to establish the first stable electric current for distribution. You can't tell this story without also including Nikola Tesla, and that is the role Hoult is taking. Alejandro Gomez-Rejon (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) is directing. [Variety]
