Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman and Ruth Wilson have joined the cast of the upcoming John Lee Hancock-directed Saving Mr. Banks. Variety reports that they’ll star opposite the previously-attached Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson, Colin Farrell and Bradley Whitford.
The movie focuses on P.L. Travers (Thompson), the woman who wrote the “Mary Poppins” books beginning in 1934 and her fierce apprehension (and later regret) about bringing the character to the screen.
The script is said to shift back and forth between 1961 and 1907 and covers Travers’ childhood in rural Queensland and her experience negotiating with Walt Disney (Hanks) and his team for the film. Farrell will play her father, the inspiration for the Mr. Banks character.
Giamatti will play Ralph, Travers’ chauffer with Wilson playing Travers’ mother in flashbacks and Schwartzman taking the role of Disney songwriter Richard Morton.
Disney is looking to start filming this fall in Los Angeles.
(Photo Credit: Lia Toby / WENN.com)
