When Disney snatched up the Black List script "Saving Mr. Banks" back in February, not only was it one of the hottest buys of the year so far, there was added oomph by the fact the studio was already looking to cast Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep for the lead roles. And hell, landing one out of two ain't bad…
Variety reports that talks are now underway for Hanks and Emma Thompson to star in the movie about a movie. Penned by rising writer Kelly Marcel (who penned the pilot of "Terra Nova," did an extensive, uncredited rewrite on "Bronson" and has "Valerio" brewing with James Marsh) the script tells the true story of how Walt Disney persuaded Australian author P.L. Travers to give him the rights to her most famous creation, magical nanny "Mary Poppins." Travers had been reluctant to sell the film rights, due to her personal connection to her creation, but Disney eventually won her over. However, she hated the film, and in particular the animated sequences, and their relationship became estranged. And as you can probably deduce, Hanks would play Walt with Thompson as Travers, and it would mark the first time these two actors have worked together.
John Lee Hancock ("The Blind Side") is slated to direct the film, which may still have to wait a bit for Hanks' schedule to clear up as he's got Paul Greengrass' "Captain Phillips" on deck next. But when Hanks says he'll play Walt Disney, you wait.
