First Look at Tom Hanks as Walt Disney
It can't be easy shooting a movie at Disneyland with all of the hundreds of thousands of people that fill the park every day. But, that's where director John Lee Hancock is currently shooting the film Saving Mr. Banks with Tom Hanks playing Walt Disney.
Some photos from the set of the film at Disneyland have hit the internet, and they give us our first look at Hanks as Disney, as well as other members of the cast such as Emma Thompson as P.L Travers and some extras. Hanks may not be the spitting image of Disney, but he still looks great in the role, and of course he's going to pull it off brilliantly.
The story follows Walt Disney (Hanks) as he attempts to convince British author P.L. Travers (Thompson) to sell him the rights to make her beloved Mary Poppins story -- the classic film we all know and love today. Colin Farrell plays Travers' father, the man who inspired the character of Mr. Banks. Ruth Wilson will play the wife of Farrell's character, Paul Giamatti will play Travers' chauffeur Ralph, and Jason Schwartzman will play Richard Morton Sherman, a songwriter who penned a number of tunes for Disney films, including Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Winnie the Pooh, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and "It's a Small World" for the theme park attraction.
It took Disney 14 years to finally acquire the rights to Mary Poppins that was eventually portrayed by Julie Andrews. After opposing the film's animated sequences, Travers refused to sell Disney the rights to her other books.
The photos come from various sources such as @MelFarleyActor, via Inside the Magic. The Hanks and Disney portrait photo came from @imagineeringdis.