Tom Hanks Plays Walt Disney In 'Saving Mr. Banks' Filming At Disneyland

Actor Tom Hanks will embody famed animator Walt Disney in the upcoming film “Saving Mr. Banks.”

Hanks was seen on set at Disneyland on Tuesday, in full costume, a near spitting image of the film pioneer, the Daily Mail reported. It was the movie’s first day of filming.

The actor was spotted with his “graying hair slicked back and parted and with a dress shirt, suspenders and tie,” much like the 1920’s style during which Disney built his empire.

The movie, which co-stars Emma Thompson as Australian author P.L. Travers, follows the making of Disney's Mary Poppins. Travers wrote the book from which the musical was developed.

According to the Mail, Disney supposedly spent 14 years trying to convince Travers to allow him to make the Mary Poppins story into a movie.

Despite eventually giving permission, Travers never worked with Disney again, upset that the film featured animated sequences.

The 1964 film starred Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke and remains a Disney classic.

Filming continued Wednesday in Anaheim, Calif., with Thompson joining Hanks in full costume as Travers, wearing a vintage suit and her hair in curls.

The Examiner notes that as filming continues at Disneyland Park, several attractions will be affected, including Main Street, U.S.A.; Carnation Café; Plaza Inn; Sleeping Beauty Castle; Fantasyland and Astro Orbiter.

“Saving Mr. Banks” is scheduled for release on Dec. 20, 2013.