Dan Rather Scandal Movie 'Truth' Starring Robert Redford to Begin Shooting This Fall

Yahoo Movies
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By Pamela McClintock

James Vanderbilt’s Truth, the high-profile movie chronicling the scandal that derailed Dan Rather’s career, has gotten the greenlight to begin shooting this fall.

Brett Ratner’s RatPac Entertainment and Echo Lake Entertainment will finance the movie, starring Robert Redford as the iconic news anchor and Cate Blanchett as Mary Mapes, Rather’s producer. At the same time, FilmNation has come aboard to represent international rights and will pre-sell the project to foreign buyers at the Toronto Film Festival, which kicks off Thursday night (based on the cast, it’s sure to whet appetites).

Mythology Entertainment is the driving force behind Truth, which was first announced in July.

Based on Mapes’ 2005 memoir Truth and Duty: The Press, the President, and the Privilege of Power, Truth centers on the on the firestorm and ensuing “Rathergate” scandal that erupted in September of 2004 after Rather reported that George W. Bush had received special treatment while serving in the Air National Guard during the Vietnam War, a report that was based on some documents that were suspected to be forgeries.

After Rather’s report on Bush aired, it became the subject of harsh criticism, and an internal investigation was launched. Mapes was subsequently fired, while Rather’s reputation was maligned. Both Mapes and Rather have stuck by their reporting and neither they nor CBS has ever issued an official retraction.

Truth marks Vanderbilt’s directorial debut. The prolific screenwriter, whose credits include The Amazing Spider-Man and White House Down, wrote the adapted script. WME and CAA are representing domestic rights.

Brad Fischer, William Sherak, Vanderbilt and Mikkel Bondesen are producing alongside Ratner, Doug Mankoff and Andy Spaulding.

In a July interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Rather said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the movie. “Although I have no illusions,” he added. “Not everybody is going to like the idea that a film is being made. And not everybody is going to like the film, however it turns out.”

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