Anne Hathaway is the early (very unofficial) front-runner to play Mary Poppins in the reported upcoming live-action musical sequel. Hathaway’s name is not at the top of the list in light of some Hollywood gossip or an insider tip, but because one gambling website taking bets on the casting has given her favorable odds.
Irish gambling site BoyleSports will allow fans to place bets on who will replace Julie Andrews in the new movie, which multiple outlets report will be an all-new story set 20 years after the original film, inspired by some of P.L. Travers’ Mary Poppins novels.
A bet for Anne Hathaway carries 4:6 odds. While that’s far from a lock, she seems pretty safe compared than her closest competitors, Emily Blunt (5:2), Amy Adams (7:2), Kristen Bell (11:2) and Anna Kendrick (10:1).
No, putting money down predicting Julie Andrews’ return does not seem to be an option, even for the sake of wish fulfillment.
While there’s no concrete word on casting, Entertainment Weekly reported that Disney has tapped Into The Woods director Rob Marshall and producers John DeLuca and Marc Platt to shepard the project. Hairspray songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman will write original music. Lastly, Finding Neverland screenwriter David Magee will handle the script. Presumably you will take all of that information into account before you decide to place your bet.
[Via EW.]