Paul Giamatti and Jason Schwartzman join Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks

Paul Giamatti and Jason Schwartzman have joined the cast of Disney’s SAVING MR. BANKS.

The film will center on, “Walt Disney’s 14-year courtship of the Australian author for the film rights to the Poppins character, played by Julie Andrews in the 1964 classic. After opposing the film’s animated sequences, Travers refused to sell Disney the rights to her other books.” Hanks is playing the part of Disney and Emma Thompson will take on the role of Travers.

Here are the character details: Schwartzman will portray Richard Morton Sherman, a songwriter who penned a number of tracks for Disney films, including MARY POPPINS, THE JUNGLE BOOK, and WINNIE THE POOH. Giamatti will play Travers’ chauffeur Ralph, while she’s visiting Los Angeles.

Ruth Wilson (ANNA KARENINA) has also signed on to play, “the wife of Colin Farrell’s character and mother of Travers in flashback sequences.”

John Lee Hancock (THE BLIND SIDE) is set to direct the script from Kelly Marcel (TERRA NOVA).