WASHINGTON — Hollywood heavy-hitters Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks were in D.C. this week for the premiere of an upcoming film about The Washington Post’s decision to publish the “Pentagon Papers.”
Streep and Hanks were joined by director Steven Spielberg for a roundtable discussion at The Washington Post headquarters about the film called, appropriately, “The Post.”
Streep plays Post publisher Katherine Graham and Hanks plays executive editor Ben Bradlee.
Spielberg said he aimed to make a fact-based, historical drama — with captivating characters.
“Understand that our intention was to do a character story about principally two people — Katherine Graham and Ben Bradlee — and then all the other people that affect their lives and whose lives they affect. And that’s … what my full focus was on,” Spielberg said.
Hanks mentioned how getting the little details right helped give the film a historically accurate feel.
“They said the presses were in the basement. And when they ran, you felt the entire building tremble and shake,” he said.
The Post has a limited release, including in D.C. starting Dec. 22 and opens nationwide Jan. 12.
See the full video of the panel discussion above.
