SONY Pictures Classics has set an Oct. 16 release date for “Truth,” the Dan Rather drama starring Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford.

    The company plans an initial release in New York and Los Angeles, then will follow up with a nationwide expansion.

    The movie stars Redford as Rather and Blanchett as Mary Mapes, Rather’s producer, in the tale of venerable anchor’s fall from grace. The movie is James Vanderbilt’s directorial debut and also stars Topher Grace, Elisabeth Moss and Dennis Quaid.

    Truth is based on Mapes’ memoir “Truth and Duty: The Press, the President, and the Privilege of Power.”

    It tells of the firestorm 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. Rather’s reputation was badly damaged and Mapes, an award-winning CBS News journalist and Rather’s producer, was fired.(SD-Agencies)