Mary Poppins Returns would not be much of a Mary Poppins follow-up without any of the musical numbers. So composer and co-lyricist Marc Shaiman and co-lyricist Scott Wittman will bring back the spirit of the Sherman Brothers through new music in the highly anticipated sequel to the 1964 film.

In the new film, we see Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) return to help the Banks family, who is about to be evicted from their home. She brings back the light that is lost and reminds the family about all of the joys and happiness that can be found in imagination and seeing things from a different point of view. And most of that is through song.

We joined our fellow journalists at a press conference in Los Angeles to talk to Shaiman and Wittman about writing the songs and music heard in Mary Poppins Returns. Like everyone else involved, the original film was in their DNA, so getting a chance to be a part of something so beloved was a dream come true. But they also recognized the responsibility of paying respects to the sequel’s predecessor and how many hold it in high regard. They also shared their thoughts on working with screenwriter David McGee and director Rob Marshall. More on that and what their thoughts on Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins in our coverage of the press conference here below.

Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns takes place 25 years after the original film, although it has been 54 years since the first film was released. As such, you may notice some contemporary differences infused with the new film’s DNA. Most notably, more people of color and some modern-day hip-hop in the music. These are just some of the small details that blend in the new with the old. More so, the sequel brings in some of today’s biggest stars in place of some of the original cast.

One of those biggest additions is Lin-Manuel Miranda, who plays Jack, a lamplighter and one of Bert’s proteges. In the film, he helps out Mary Poppins, the self-appointed nanny of the Banks family. While he may not be as magical as the title character, he shares that same child-like wonder and sense of hope whenever he is around Mary, all the while breaking out into song and dance.

We had a chance recently to sit down with our fellow journalists to talk to the cast and crew of Mary Poppins Returns. There, Miranda talked about what it was like to get the call to be in the film and how the sequel isn’t the first time you hear rapping in a Mary Poppins film. Check out what he had to say here below.

Earlier this year Disney released a schedule of yet-to-be-announced film. Given the string of successful live-action adaptations and reboots the studio has gone through recently, it’s no surprise that they would be announcing release dates early on. One of those live-action films Disney has in store for us is the sequel to the 1964 film Mary Poppins.

Now the studio has announced an official title, Mary Poppins Returns, and a release date for the film. The film, which will star Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, is expected to hit theaters in December 2018. More on the story below.