Cannes: Sony Pictures Classics Acquiring Dan Rather Scandal Movie 'Truth' (Exclusive)

Robert Redford is playing the famed news anchor, while Cate Blanchett plays Rather's producer Mary Mapes.

Sony Pictures Classics is taking North American rights to Truth, the Dan Rather scandal movie that stars Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett. Sources peg the deal at $6 million.

The hot market project is based on the 2005 memoir Truth and Duty: The Press, the President, and the Privilege of Power. The book, written by Rather's producer Mary Mapes, centers on 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.

Redford stars as Rather, while Blanchett, who is currently at the festival with Todd Haynes' Carol, plays Mapes. Elisabeth Moss, Topher Grace and Dennis Quaid also appear in the film.

James Vanderbilt, the screenwriter behind The Amazing Spider-Man and White House Down, made his directorial debut with the project, which Mythology Entertainment is producing.

Brad Fischer, William Sherak, Vanderbilt and Mikkel Bondesen are producing alongside Brett Ratner, Doug Mankoff and Andy Spaulding. RatPac's James Packer is executive producing alongside Steven Silver and Neil Tabatznik of Blue Lake, the financing arm of Echo Lake.

RatPac Entertainment and Echo Lake Entertainment are financing the movie. Ratner has been on the ground (and on the yachts) in Cannes working on the deal for RatPac. FilmNation is selling it internationally.

Sony Pictures Classics has been very active at the fest in its first week, acquiring competition drama Son of Saul and Hirokazu Koreeda's Our Little Sister.