FIRST LOOK: Tom Hanks as pioneering animator Walt Disney in Saving Mr. Banks



He has big shoes to fill in his new role as pioneering animator Walt Disney.



And Tom Hanks on Wednesday gave fans a behind-the-scenes look as he stepped on set of his latest film, Saving Mr. Banks.



Styled with an impeccable likeness to the studio creator, Hanks gave a promising early impression of Disney as filming got underway in Los Angeles.



A promising impression: Tom Hanks gets into character as Walt Disney on the Anaheim, California set of Saving Mr. Banks on Wednesday

The production, which tells the story of the Making of Disney's Mary Poppins, co-stars Emma Thompson and Paul Giamatti.

With The Blind Side director John Lee Hancock at the helm, Emma takes on the role of Australian author P.L.Travers, who wrote the book on which the musical is based and joined Hanks on set in Anaheim today.

Big shoes to fill: Hanks is taking on the role of the studio creator, who passed away in 1966

On set: Hanks was styled in a tailored grey suit and furrowed his brow as scenes played out in front of him

While the movie is in its early days of filming, the role seemed well-casted to the Oscar-winner, who wore his greying hair slicked back and parted; and with a dress shirt, suspenders and tie, evoked a clear image of the man who built an imaginative empire in 1920s Hollywood. Emma, her hair coiffed into tight curls, and wearing a vintage skirt suit, appeared reticent in character - an unsurprising notion as Disney is said to have spent 14 years trying to persuade her to allow him to make a film of her children's story.

On the big screen: Saving Mr. Banks is scheduled for a December 2013 premiere Co-stars: The actor was joined on set by Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers, right, the author of the book on which Mary Poppins was based At odds: Travers was so upset by the animated sequences in the 1964 film she never worked with Disney again Travers had been reluctant to sell the film rights due to her personal connection to her creation and was staunchly against the film being animated. Although the director eventually won her over, she was unimpressed with his efforts.

So upset the film was released featuring animated sequences, she never worked with Disney again. Pioneer: Walt Disney points to a map of central Florida as he unveiled plans for Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida in this undated file photograph Still, Mary Poppins went to become one of the studios' most beloved films, starring Julie Andrews in her Hollywood debut as the magical nanny, and Dick Van Dyke as a one-man-band who befriends Poppins and the children under her charges.

The 1964 musical featured live action and animated scenes and many memorable tunes, including A Spoonful of Sugar and Lets go fly a Kite.

Saving Mr. Banks is scheduled for a December 2013 release.

Classic: Mary Poppins starred Julie Andrews in her Hollywood debut as the magical nanny, and Dick Van Dyke as a one-man-band who befriends Poppins and the children under her charges