Colin Farrell is currently in talks to join the cast of Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks. The upcoming film is based on how Walt Disney had a 14-year relationship with Australian author P.L. Travers. Travers stayed in the courtship in an attempt to persuade him to sell the rights to make a film out of Mary Poppins.
Farrell will play Travers’ father, the inspiration for the Mr. Banks character played by David Tomlinson in the older 1964 film that starred Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews. Emma Thompson will play Travers and Tom Hanks will play Disney.
Travers’ father is also a banker who dips into alcoholism as the family falls into financial problems. Travers was bothered by the new revelation of her father, and as a result, her writing was affected.
Kelly Marcel wrote the script and John Lee Hancock is directing the film.
The Disney project is slated to begin shooting in Los Angeles. More details on the release date coming soon…