Lin-Manuel Miranda reveals what it’s really like to work with Dick Van Dyke

Lin-Manuel Miranda, the American composer, lyricist, playwright, and actor, shared some details about working with one of his idols, Dick Van Dyke.

Miranda, who has won three Tony awards so far, told Closer Weekly how good was it for him to work next to such an important actor as Van Dyke, who he labeled as one of his childhood heroes.

Van Dyke and Miranda shared the set of the upcoming Disney’s musical film titled Mary Poppins Returns. Miranda will portray an apprentice of Van Dyke’s chimney sweep from the original movie while the 92-year-old star will take the role of a banker.

Miranda confessed that he spent most of his time talking to Van Dyke about his Tony-winning 1960 turn in Bye Bye Birdie because Miranda took the role of Conrad Birdie in a 6th-grade play.

‘Dick has more energy than I will ever have in my life, and it's incredible. It's humiliating, and it's awesome!’

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Closer Weekly, May 10, 2018.

Van Dyke and Miranda also got the chance to work with Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, and Meryl Streep in the movie that is set to be released on December 21, 2018, in the U.K. and on December 25, 2018, in the U.S.

This new film will be set in 1930s London 25 years after the events of the original Mary Poppins released in 1964. One of the most interesting facts of the movie is that Van Dyke is the only original actor to return in this sequel.

The original Mary Poppins was the film that catapulted Van Dyke’s career. Thanks to his outstanding performance, he won a Grammy Award for Best Album for Children and was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.

Apart from having an important career on the big screen, Van Dyke made sure to take his talent to the television with The Dick Van Dyke Show and, years later, with The New Dick Van Dyke Show.