Claim: Emma Thompson was in a movie.

Saving Mr. Banks is a 2013 biographical period comedy-drama film directed by John Lee Hancock from a screenplay written by Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith . Centered on the development of the 1964 film Mary Poppins , the film stars Emma Thompson as author P. L. Travers and Tom Hanks as filmmaker Walt Disney , with supporting performances by Paul Giamatti , Jason Schwartzman , Bradley Whitford , and Colin Farrell . Deriving its title from the father in Travers ' story , Saving Mr. Banks depicts the author 's fortnight-long meetings during 1961 in Los Angeles , during which Disney attempts to obtain the screen rights to her novels .   Essential Media Entertainment and BBC Films initially developed Saving Mr. Banks as an independent production until 2011 , when producer Alison Owen approached Walt Disney Pictures for permission to use copyrighted elements . The film 's subject matter piqued Disney 's interest , leading the studio to acquire the screenplay and produce the film . Principal photography commenced the following year in September before wrapping in November 2012 ; the film was shot almost entirely in the Southern California area , primarily at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank , where a majority of the film 's narrative takes place .   Saving Mr. Banks premiered at the London Film Festival on October 20 , 2013 , and was released theatrically that same year in the United Kingdom on November 29 and in the United States on December 13 . Upon release , the film received positive reviews , with praise directed towards the acting , screenplay , and musical score . Thompson 's performance garnered a BAFTA Award , Golden Globe Award , Screen Actors Guild Award , and Critic 's Choice Award nominations for Best Actress , while composer Thomas Newman earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score . The film was also commercially successful , grossing $ 118 million at the worldwide box office .