Saving Mr Banks about making Mary Poppins

[Tom Morrow]

‘Saving Mr. Banks’ about making ‘Mary Poppins’

Disney acquiring Black List script ‘Saving Mr. Banks,’ on making ‘Mary Poppins’ Deadline New York The Walt Disney Company is near a deal to acquire Saving Mr. Banks, the Kelly Marcel-scripted saga of how Walt Disney persuaded Australian author P.L. Travers to sell him the rights to make a film out of Mary Poppins. That courtship took 14 years. Disney seems a natural place for the script, considering the studio owns many rights from making the 1964 classic film that starred Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke and David Tomlinson, the latter of whom played Mr. Banks in the film. Also, what studio is better equipped to make its founder, Walt Disney, a major character in a feature film? The heart of this script comes from how close Travers felt to her story of a nanny with magical powers. Mary Poppins was highly personal, and reflected hardships in her own life and her relationship with her father, who died when she was 7. Disney finally persuaded her to let him make the film, but she was prickly all the way to the end. While Mary Poppins was lauded immediately, she hated the animated sequences in the film so much that she refused to sell any of her other works to Disney. The script made the 2011 Black List, and is set up with producer Alison Owen at Ruby Films. Disney has been working on this for awhile, and the expectation is that it will be star cast. There have been rumors of the script being considered by Tom Hanks (for Disney) and Meryl Streep (for Travers). All this will unfold once the deal closes. by Mike Fleming complete article

Submitted by Ezra

[lpetiti]

I have no doubt that Meryl Streep can play a convincing Mrs. Travers, but Tom Hanks as Walt? Questionable.

[ShrunkenNed]

Absolutely amazing. Love historical works and always felt Walt would be a great subject. Glad to see the Disney company put their hand in the mix - here's hoping it comes true!

[Horbigast]

Hanks is a charming & talented performer, but he is not the chameleon that Streep is when playing historical figures. I hate selling him short because I've loved most of the movies I've seen him in. But I can't see him doing Mr. Disney justice.

That said, Walt is so dear to all our hearts, who out there would you cast as the man himself? Who could possibly portray the warmth, energy and charisma that Walt exuded to everyone around him? It's a tall order.

[ShrunkenNed]

Looking at P.T Travers, she's kind of a cross between Julia Child and Margaret Thatcher.... So Streep would be a great choice.

Looks wise I can almost see Jon Hamm putting on makeup and looking like Walt. Truthfully though, this part might be best going to an unknown.

[gmonk003]

Decapreo would make a better Disney

[Tom Morrow]

Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson may star

Tom Hanks as Walt Disney? Oscar winner may star in 'Saving Mr. Banks' with Emma Thompson Huffington Post Tom Hanks has had great success for Walt Disney Studios — his vocal work helped the Toy Story franchise earn almost $2 billion around the globe — but will his magic touch extend to actually playing Disney himself? That's the hope for the studio, which — according to Deadline.com — is eyeing Hanks to star as Disney in Saving Mr. Banks, a true-life story that follows the mogul's attempts to bring Mary Poppins to the big screen. Emma Thompson in is talks to play P.L. Travers, the Australian author behind Poppins, who fought Disney at every turn over the course of 14 years while he attempted to option her novel. John Lee Hancock, who helmed The Blind Side, is set to direct, according to Variety (registration required). Little else is known about the project beyond the real-life outcome. by Christpher Rosen complete article

Submitted by Ezra

[#1DisneyFreak]

I was just saying to Craig yesterday that I think Daniel Day Lewis could do it. That man MORPHS into whatever character he is playing. His accent, his personality, his physical appearance, even his mannerisms. I bet he could do it. But honestly, I don't know who SHOULD be cast- I just know I am NOT good with Tom Hanks! I'll only be able to picture Woody the whole time!

[Aurorasmiles]

I'm not too keen on Tom Hanks either. I have been thinking about who might be able to pull this off. Has there every been anyone in any movie, documentary or any type of film for that matter to portray Walt Disney?

I've never seen Mad Men, but Jon Hamm could be a candidate. He already has that retro look going on.

[DaddyB]

I typically try to reserve judgement until I at least see a teaser trailer. I tend to have more faith in the director and casting department then that.

[Ezra]

Tom Hanks name is a box office draw, and he has a good relationship with Disney. I have my doubts. For this to work, Hanks can't simply "be a personality" and "phone in" a performance, as is his want lately: He has to return to ACTING. He's done it before, so...

Emma Thompson is also an interesting choice. She usually so sweet and endearing, but casting an opposite can be very effective. Travers probably appeared to be kindly at first, too. I think the nastiness of her consulting sessions came as somewhat of a shock to Don Degradi and the Shermans. Thompson doesn't mind scenery chewing. She;s advancing in age, and it may be time for her to pull some new tricks out of the bag. (I remember thinking Lynne Redgrave sweet and endearing, and was shocked how good she was as the mean-spirited, cantankerous housekeeper in Gods & Monsters. Did she win an Oscar for that? I know she was nominated, and quite rightly.)

[ShrunkenNed]

The only time I've been able to disassociate Tom Hanks from the character he was playing was Forrest Gump. Besides that one role, regardless of how good he's able to portray emotions, humor, conflict - it's still a Tom Hanks character. Walt Disney is not a Tom Hanks character, and I have a big doubt of an icon playing an icon. If this were a work based on fictional characters, I could probably reserve judgement more, even if it was a character I had pictured differently in my mind. But try as I may, I cannot SEE Walt in Tom Hanks. I can't imagine his voice lowering to the depth of Walt.

I'm going to withhold final judgement until I see the movie, because I love the idea behind it, but it's up to the script, the directing, the makeup, the actor to make me believe. And I hope they do.

[Ezra]

The only time I've been able to disassociate Tom Hanks from the character he was playing was Forrest Gump.

...and BIG. That's why I say he really has to bring it this time.

[Wedbliss]

Playing Walt Disney is one tough acting challenge. Most of what made Walt special was internal. There was nothing remarkable about the way he looked or the way he sounded. How does one act like an unassuming, seemingly ordinary Midwesterner who is a creative genius? Hanks will have one of the toughest roles he has ever played in Saving Mr. Banks. He has to capture Walt's inner spark and I think he has the chops to do it.

We Disney fans know Walt so well that any actor would have a tough time playing this role to our satisfaction. I wish Tom Hanks the best and hope he has the wisdom to not try and do an impression of Walt, but rather simply capture his spirit.

I'm more worried about the script than the cast. Kelly Marcel is a 38 year old British writer who is primarily known as the creative force behind the show Terra Nova. She doesn't have a long resume so it's hard to get a grasp on the depth of her talent. I'm wondering how she researched this story. Did she have some exclusive access to memos and letters pertaining to the Walt/Travers relationship? Is it even her intent to tell the actual story? Are the real life events simply a jumping off point which Marcel will use to tell the story she wants to tell? I would be a lot more worried if some other studio were to produce this movie.

I wonder what the Disney family will think about this. What if they don't like the movie? If they aren't pleased, there isn't much Disney can do to keep them from being vocal about it.

Saving Mr. Banks is an ok title, but for some reason I get the feeling that it might change. If not, then Tom Hanks can save Mr. Banks right along with Private Ryan.

[Ezra]

I'm more worried about the script than the cast. Kelly Marcel is a 38 year old British writer who is primarily known as the creative force behind the show Terra Nova. She doesn't have a long resume so it's hard to get a grasp on the depth of her talent. I'm wondering how she researched this story. Did she have some exclusive access to memos and letters pertaining to the Walt/Travers relationship? Is it even her intent to tell the actual story? Are the real life events simply a jumping off point which Marcel will use to tell the story she wants to tell? I would be a lot more worried if some other studio were to produce this movie.

Disney's purchase of a script doesn't imply that they'll use it exactly as written. I have little doubt that consultants will be brought in to tidy up any inaccuracies. There will be a developement process. There will be rewrites, perhaps extensive ones. Sometimes the product that come out the other end has little resemblance to the script that came in. A completely different script can be draped over the original outline.

Still, there must be something apealing about the script for Disney to purchase it. I don't think they bought it just to plant a flag because I doubt other studios would have touched it. Who wants to go against Disney Legal?

Disney will want Richard Sherman for a featurette; he's probably available to consult as well. As for the Travers side of things, fly Brian Sibley in. He's always happy to work with Disney, and he's an impressive authority on notable Brittish fantasy authors.