WikiLeaks releases “Fifth Estate” script, criticizes inaccuracies

WikiLeaks releases “Fifth Estate” script, criticizes inaccuracies

PanARMENIAN.Net - WikiLeaks has posted a copy of the script for forthcoming film The Fifth Estate online.

It has also heavily criticised the movie, which depicts the website's early days, claiming that it is "irresponsible, counterproductive and harmful," Digital Sp reveals.

WikiLeaks on September 19 uploaded a 4,000-word response to the movie, alongside what is said to be a "mature" version of the script obtained by the site "at a late stage during the principal photography".

In its post, the site asserts that the screenplay is "fiction masquerading as fact".

"Most of the events depicted never happened, or the people shown were not involved in them," the memo reads.

"It has real names, real places, and looks like it is covering real events, but it is still a dramatic and cinematic work, and it invents or shapes the facts to fit its narrative goals."

As well as outlining what it considers to be a number of "falsehoods" and inaccuracies in The Fifth Estate, WikiLeaks also looks to distance itself from the production and discredit those involved.

Claiming that director Bill Condon had an anti-WikiLeaks agenda, it cites interviews with Benedict Cumberbatch - who portrays the website's founder in the film - where he hints at concerns about the positioning of Assange.

The statement alleges as well that producers deliberately included false information and have refused to let WikiLeaks staff watch the movie.

"WikiLeaks submitted via Jeff Skoll of Participant Media suggested corrections," it adds.

"These corrections were ignored and the closing text of the finished film retains the falsehoods.

"Although the film has premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and numerous other media organizations have been shown review copies, the studio continues to refuse to show the film to WikiLeaks staff."

Earlier this month, Cumberbatch revealed that Assange - who remains in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he was granted political asylum - emailed him and tried to discourage him from taking part in the movie.

When Assange was mentioned during a Toronto Film Festival press conference, Cumberbatch added: "I'm not a betting man, but I reckon he won't particularly want to support the film."

After the script was posted, WikiLeaks took to Twitter to clarify its decision to share the screenplay in its entirety.

"As WikiLeaks was never consulted about the Dreamworks/Disney film on us," it tweeted, "we've given our advice for free: It's bad."

The Fifth Estate will be released on October 11 in UK and Ireland, with a U.S. release following on October 18.

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