Australian big-screen darling Cate Blanchett and Hollywood legend Robert Redford will film their new movie together in Sydney this spring.

The Oscar-winning actors will spend eight weeks in spring shooting the upcoming political drama Truth, the NSW Government has confirmed.

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Based on 60 Minutes producer Mary Mapes’ 2005 memoir, the story centres on the 2004 scandal that erupted after US news anchor Dan Rather reported that the then president George W Bush received preferential treatment to avoid the Vietnam War draft.

Redford will play Rather in acclaimed screenwriter James Vanderbilt’s directorial debut, while Blanchett will take on the role of Mapes, the producer who was fired over the controversial report.

According to Deadline Hollywood, Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss joins the cast as associate producer Lucy Scott.

Arts Minister Troy Grant said most of the film’s post-production work will also be completed in NSW.

“This international production, starring Sydney’s own Cate Blanchett, and one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars, Robert Redford, shows yet again that NSW is at the top of the list of preferred international production destinations,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

Blanchett and Redford are the latest of a string of Hollywood stars who have signed up to make upcoming films in Australia.

Kate Winslet arrived in Melbourne this week to start shooting her new movie The Dressmaker alongside Liam Hemsworth, Judy Davis and Hugo Weaving.

Earlier this month is was confirmed Australian actress Teresa Palmer will head back to Sydney to star in upcoming psychological thriller 2:22, while Johnny Depp will also be en route to Queensland next February to shoot Pirates of the Caribbean 5.