Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett find themselves at the centre of journalism scandal in trailer for 'Rathergate' film Truth

Dan Rather and Mary Mapes went from televising the news to being the news after the infamous 2004 scandal that came to be known as ‘Rathergate’.

And Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett are bringing that story to life in their latest film Truth, which released its new trailer on Wednesday.

The movie aired at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month to decent reviews, and if the trailer is anything to go by, it promises to be jam-packed with drama.

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Jam-packed with drama: Robert Redford (L) and Cate Blanchett star as Dan Rather and Mary Mapes in Truth, which has just released a new trailer
Jam-packed with drama: Robert Redford (L) and Cate Blanchett star as Dan Rather and Mary Mapes in Truth, which has just released a new trailer

Jam-packed with drama: Robert Redford (L) and Cate Blanchett star as Dan Rather and Mary Mapes in Truth, which has just released a new trailer

Truth tells the story of the 60 Minutes team who called President George W. Bush’s military service into question just before the 2004 election.

Rather declared on air that preferential treatment saw the President enlisted in the National Guard in order to avoid being drafted during the Vietnam War.

The group obtained documents to support their claims, but they never had them verified, and it wasn’t long before several outlets called their authenticity into question.

In the trailer, Mapes airs her frustration as she comes under fire for running the story, feeling that she is being vilified for not keeping quiet about her discovery. 

Scandal: The film tells the story of the 60 Minutes team who called President George W. Bush’s military service into question just before the 2004 election

Scandal: The film tells the story of the 60 Minutes team who called President George W. Bush’s military service into question just before the 2004 election

Esteemed journalist: Dan Rather went from being well respected to a disgraced journalist after the incident

Esteemed journalist: Dan Rather went from being well respected to a disgraced journalist after the incident

‘I never should have asked the question,’ she sobs, as she is comforted by her husband, portrayed by John Benjamin Hickey.

Towards the end of the clip we see Mapes in front of a panel, with one man telling her: ‘What we are talking about is you bringing your politics into your reporting.’

When Mapes insists she ‘did nothing of the kind’, he fires back: ‘Where does politics not enter into this?’

The TV producer points out that people are not willing to discuss the possibility of her story potentially being accurate.

On the hunt for a good story: The group obtained documents to support their claims, but they never had them verified

On the hunt for a good story: The group obtained documents to support their claims, but they never had them verified

All-star cast: Elisabeth Moss plays associate producer Lucy Scott, who relays that 'the President of the United States may have gone AWOL from the military'

All-star cast: Elisabeth Moss plays associate producer Lucy Scott, who relays that 'the President of the United States may have gone AWOL from the military'

‘Our story was about whether the President fulfilled his service,’ she shouts. ‘Nobody wants to talk about that – they want to talk about fonts and forgeries, and they hope to God the truth gets lost in the scrum.’

The trailer shows Mapes obtaining the documents, and the team then appearing to go ahead and run with the story after running out of time to authenticate them.

Elisabeth Moss plays associate producer Lucy Scott, who relays that ‘the President of the United States may have gone AWOL from the military.’

Big claims: Rather declared on air that preferential treatment saw the President enlisted in the National Guard in order to avoid being drafted during the Vietnam War

Big claims: Rather declared on air that preferential treatment saw the President enlisted in the National Guard in order to avoid being drafted during the Vietnam War

Out of time: The clip appears to show the team going ahead with the documents without getting them authenticated 

Out of time: The clip appears to show the team going ahead with the documents without getting them authenticated 

Forgeries?: Blogs pointed out that the documents in question could easily be recreated on Microsoft Word

Forgeries?: Blogs pointed out that the documents in question could easily be recreated on Microsoft Word

Dennis Quaid’s character Colonel Roger Charles replies, ‘He never even showed up.’

Excited about the big news that they may have uncovered, Topher Grace’s researcher character Mike Smith gushes: ‘These really are the Holy Grail of documents.’

After the trailer shows Rather raising a glass and the team toasting to a ‘great story’, everything starts to fall apart.

A secretary informs Mapes that ‘blogs are saying that the memos can be recreated in Microsoft Word’.

Under fire: An investigation  was launched after several outlets called the authenticity of the documents into question

Under fire: An investigation  was launched after several outlets called the authenticity of the documents into question

Taking its toll: We see Mary break down in tears as she is comforted by her husband

Taking its toll: We see Mary break down in tears as she is comforted by her husband

At the centre of a media storm: While she is used to making news as a TV producer, Mary finds herself becoming the news

At the centre of a media storm: While she is used to making news as a TV producer, Mary finds herself becoming the news

Things quickly begin to unravel and an investigation is then launched, with the group’s source being called into question.

‘They do not get to do this, they do not get to smack us just for asking the questions,’ Mapes shouts.

The film, which will have a limited release in the US on October 16, is written and directed by James Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt is the screenwriter of movies such as The Amazing Spider-Man and its sequel, but Truth marks his directorial debut.

Standing by her story: Mary regrets asking questions, but points out that people are not willing to discuss the possibility of her story potentially being accurate

Standing by her story: Mary regrets asking questions, but points out that people are not willing to discuss the possibility of her story potentially being accurate

The calm before the storm: The team are seen toasting to their 'great story' before everything starts to unravel

The calm before the storm: The team are seen toasting to their 'great story' before everything starts to unravel

Telling her side: The film is adapted from the memoir of 2005 Mary Mapes, titled Truth And Duty: The Press, The President, And The Privilege Of Power

Telling her side: The film is adapted from the memoir of 2005 Mary Mapes, titled Truth And Duty: The Press, The President, And The Privilege Of Power

The film is adapted from the memoir of 2005 Mary Mapes, titled Truth And Duty: The Press, The President, And The Privilege Of Power.

Mapes was fired by CBS in the wake of the scandal, while other producers involved were asked to resign. Rather retired the following year.

Both Mapes and Rather still stand by the story and have pointed out that it was never proven that the documents were forged.

However Rather said on air at the time: ‘If I knew then what I know now – I would not have gone ahead with the story as it was aired, and I certainly would not have used the documents in question.’

The people behind the story: Mary Mapes is seen left in 2005, while Dan Rather is pictured right in 2004
The people behind the story: Mary Mapes is seen left in 2005, while Dan Rather is pictured right in 2004

The people behind the story: Mary Mapes is seen left in 2005, while Dan Rather is pictured right in 2004

Supporting the film: Dan attended the premiere of Truth at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month

Supporting the film: Dan attended the premiere of Truth at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month

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