Steven Spielberg has stated that there is no truth in rumours that he plans to remake Mary Poppins.

Reports circulated last week that the director was considering overseeing an updated version based on the 1964 Julie Andrews movie, itself inspired by the books by P.L. Travers.

Sir Richard Eyre, the director of a London stage show based on the story, apparently claimed that he had been approached by Spielberg with a view to helming the production. "Spielberg wants to make a new film of Mary Poppins and we've talked about it a lot," he was quoted as saying.

However, in a statement posted on fansite spielbergfilms.com, Spielberg's spokesperson Mary Levy has made a bid to dispel the rumours, explaining: "I think a spoonful of sugar went down the wrong way. I never heard of this and couldn't imagine Steven ever doing a remake of a classic — and a Disney classic at that. There's a Broadway show from Disney but nothing involving us in any way."