The ‘Rathergate’ drama Truth starring Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett will open in New York and Los Angeles on October 16.

“Rathergate” refers to the drama surrounding the story, reported by Mary Mapes and Dan Rather for CBS, that President George W. Bush might have been AWOL from his service in the National Guard for over a year during the height of the Vietnam War. Encapsulating perhaps the final time longer wounds from the Vietnam War would impact U.S. electoral politics, the news rocked the contentious 2004 presidential race, coming just as Democratic candidate John Kerry was facing accusations of falsehoods about his own military service. Very quickly, the authenticity of primary documents obtained for the report was called into question by several experts, ultimately leading to the the discrediting of the entire story. In the ensuing fallout, Mapes was fired and rather forced into retirement.

The report was subsequently discredited by the government, led at the time by George W Bush, and led to the ruining of Rather’s career and the firing of Mapes.

The incident sparked an ongoing dialogue about journalism, big media and government interference.

The film ‘Truth’ has not been part of any autumn festival line-up announcement so far and could be a target for Telluride given the pedigree of the cast and the participation of SPC, whose films often premiere in Colorado.

James Vanderbuilt’s directorial debut from his own screenplay is based on Mapes’ 2006 book Truth And Duty and also stars Topher Grace, Elisabeth Moss and Dennis Quaid.

Bradley Fischer and William Sherak of Mythology Entertainment produce alongside Doug Mankoff and Andy Spaulding of Echo Lake Entertainment and Brett Ratner of RatPac Entertainment.