Set in 2004, the film follows Mapes; 60 Minutes anchor Dan Rather (Robert Redford) and her team before the US general election, as they put together a report on evidence suggesting that President George Bush received preferential treatment in the 1970’s from the Texas Air National Guard.
Blanchett explained that she was compelled by the story and her character. “Mary Mapes is a fascinating person. I think the film raises interesting, quite provocative questions about the intersection over our politicians, the media and the big business.”
Based on Mapes’ memoir Truth and Duty: The Press, The President And The Privilege Of Power, the film was written and directed by James Vanderbilt, who explained his process of getting her story onto the screen.
“I spent a lot of time with Mary and Dan Rather and a lot of the people who are involved. I tried to get everybody’s viewpoint before I wrote a word, to see what their experience was and how they went through it. It was about taking you on that emotional journey with Mary Mapes and we worked really hard to achieve that.”
Vanderbilt has a whole host of screenplay credits under his belt which include Zodiac, The Amazing Spider-Man and the upcoming Independence Day: Resurgence, but this is his first time in the director’s seat. Speaking highly of his cast which includes Blanchett, Robert Redford, Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid and Elisabeth Moss, he said, “You can’t ask for a better cast. I was so lucky. To have people like that showing up every day working their hearts out... I said to myself, ‘I have to do the same, I have to work as hard to make something that they’ll be proud of’.”
**Truth **will be released in the UK next March.
*Reporting by Anjali Mandalia, with thanks to Go Think Big and O2. For amazing work opportunities go to Go Think Big.co.uk. *