THE Mary Poppins movie sequel may have concluded with everyone’s favourite carpet bag-toting nanny flying back up into the clouds.

But the family heroine could be poppin’ back to our screens sooner than we think.

8 Another Mary Poppins sequel may be on the cards starring Emily Blunt Credit: AP:Associated Press

I can reveal Disney bosses are already in the early stages of plotting a second sequel, following the storming results of Mary Poppins Returns at the box office.

Director Rob Marshall confirmed the production team are already on the case for a follow-up, which would see Emily Blunt return as the lead.

In an exclusive interview, he said: “It is early stages but I will say right now that there were eight books, so there’s a lot of great material still to mine. That’s what we worked from, those incredible eight books of P.L. Travers. So, you know...”

Rob was speaking at the American Airlines, BBC America and Jaguar Land Rover Bafta Tea Party as the nominations were unveiled ahead of the film awards ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall on February 10.

8 Mary Poppins Returns took £150m in less than a month Credit: Alamy

Mary Poppins star Emily Blunt steals the show in a stunning blue gown at London premiere

8 The 2019 Bafta nominations see Norwich's finest export in the leading actress category, but not Ms Blunt

He also claimed the franchise could follow in the footsteps of James Bond and Star Wars — and just keep on going.

He said: “Listen, how many Star Wars films have there been, you know what I mean? Or James Bond films. If there’s a great character and story to tell, why not?”

Producer John DeLuca also thinks a third film will happen and praised Emily’s performance in the role of Poppins, first made famous by Julie Andrews in 1964.

He said: “Emily does light up when she speaks to me about it. And if the people want it, I think it will happen.”

8 The film also stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote musical smash Hamilton Credit: Alamy

The news comes after Mary Poppins Returns, which also starred American Lin-Manuel Miranda, raked in more than £150million in less than a month since its Christmas release.

That’s certainly something to be Chim Chim Cheery about.

The latest trailer for Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns starring Emily Blunt has been released showing off the wondrous world of magic

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SIMON BOYLE'S

BIZARRE COLUMN

Queen Olivia bid to outrank Lady Gaga

Norwich’s finest export Olivia Colman is going head-to-head with American superstar Lady Gaga at the awards.

Both have been nominated in the Best Actress category.

8 Lada Gaga missed out at the Golden Globes but is hopeful for a Bafta Mask Credit: Alamy Live News

Olivia bagged a Golden Globe for her role as Queen Anne in The Favourite in Los Angeles on Sunday, while Gaga missed out on the Best Performance gong for playing Ally Campana in A Star Is Born.

While the two are the favourites for the EE Bafta mask, they also have competition from Gaga’s fellow Americans Glenn Close, from The Wife, Melissa McCarthy from Can You Ever Forgive Me? and Widows’ Viola Davis.

Olivia’s film The Favourite is ­dominating this year’s nominations, with 12 in total.

And just like their power-playing characters in the movie, co-stars Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz have been ­pitted against each other and are both nominated for the Best Supporting Actress gong. But Gaga’s A Star Is Born isn’t too far behind, with seven chances of success on the night for the hit remake of the Hollywood classic.

8 Olivia Colman's portrayal of Queen Anne in The Favourite may be favoured for a Bafta if the Globes are anything to go by

Golden Globe 2019 winner Olivia Colman leaves audience in stitches with her bizarre acceptance speech

Her co-star Bradley Cooper is up for five of them, and will be hoping to wipe the board at the UK ceremony after missing out on Best Director and Best Actor at the Golden Globes.

Bohemian Rhapsody also received seven nods, while Christian Bale biopic Vice, about former US Vice President Dick Cheney, got six.

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Spike Lee's political thriller BlacKkKlansman has five ­nominations.

Meanwhile this year’s Outstanding British Film category will be one of the toughest choices for the judges, with Bohemian Rhapsody, The Favourite, Beast, McQueen, Stan & Ollie and You Were Never Really Here all in the running.

Bizmeter It's the year for streaming sites at the 2019 awards – with Netflix on course for its best year yet. The entertainment giant is up for eight gongs, as opposed to just three last year. Seven of those nominations are for Roma, Alfonso Cuaron's drama set in Mexico City. Meanwhile Amazon has landed four nominations for epic Cold War. Steve Coogan seems just as excited about Alan Partridge coming back on TV as bagging a Best Actor Bafta nod for his role as comic Stan Laurel. He said: “The good thing is, doing other stuff like Stan & Ollie, it means that I’m more likely to carry on doing Alan. I’m not doing Alan because I have to – I’m doing Alan because I still like it and I still find it funny.” The Favourite got off to a good start at the UK box office ahead of the EE Baftas race. The comedy-drama about 18th Century monarch Queen Anne, starring Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone, made £3.97m in its first weekend. However it didn’t quite manage to dislodge Mary Poppins Returns from the top spot. As the saying goes, you wait ages for one then three come along at once. And that can certainly be applied to Spike Lee, who after a 36-year career has finally landed his first EE Bafta nomination – although he did win a special award back in 2002 for his contribution to film. His new movie BlacKkKlansman is nominated in five categories.

Brad's Great Shayks

HE’S made awards history by racking up five nominations across five disciplines for next month’s EE Baftas.

But Bradley Cooper only had one thing on his mind as he picked up another gong at the National Board of Review Awards in New York on Tuesday.

8 Bradley Cooper up for five awards, couldn't keep his eyes off new girlfriend Irina Shayk Credit: Splash News

8 Irina Shayk stunned the crowd in a crimson dress at the New York awards event Credit: Splash News

The actor couldn’t keep his eyes off model girlfriend Irina Shayk, who turned heads at the bash in a red blazer dress and beret.

Irina is expected to join Bradley in the UK for the EE Bafta ceremony, where he is nominated for best director, lead actor, adapted screenplay, original music and best film, all for A Star Is Born.

Looking at Irina, it seems Bradley is already on to a winner.

Sheer Genius, Westlife Westlife are back today with their first single in nearly seven years – Hello My Love, written by Ed Sheeran. Now they are already looking to team up with him again. They have invited Ed to perform with them on their reunion tour this summer, after the singer-songwriter revealed how he learned to play guitar to their greatest hits album. Band member Shane Filan said: “He can come any night he wants and sing Flying Without Wings with us, or something. We haven’t all met him yet as a band, but I’m sure we will meet at some stage.” Bandmate Mark Feehily first noticed a young Ed when he was still a struggling musician and tweeted that he was a fan of the up-and-comer. Mark recalled: “He was like, ‘You tweeted about me – that’s so f***ing cool.’ Finally he’s paying me back for the tweet. It’s just nice that it has finally come all the way around with him working with us – and it just so happens he’s the biggest star in the world right now.” Time for me to up my Twitter usage.