"She is a very dear friend, and if she could be involved in some way, it would be very special," he told Vulture Oct. 20. "I know she is very happy that we're doing it and, after 50 years, feels that it is time."

Confirming earlier reports that the new film will reset "Poppins" in Depression-era London, some 20 years after the setting of the 1964 version, Marshall commented on his plans to make the film wholly original and separate from the Oscar-winning classic.

"P.L. Travers wrote eight books all together. They worked from the first book, and we are working from the other books, not touching the iconic brilliance of Mary Poppins. This is an extension. I'm a huge fan of the original, and I'm a very good friend of Julie Andrews, and I hold it in such awe," he said.

"There is all this new material — it was the 'Harry Potter' of its time — and they were never turned into anything further than that adventure."

Marshall, who helmed the film adaptations of "Into the Woods" and "Chicago" will direct the film featuring a new score by Tony winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Producers John DeLuca and Marc Platt are behind the project.