Bill Condon directed The Fifth Estate, the 2013 film about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The film is based mainly on books by Daniel Domscheit-Berg and David Leigh and Luke Harding.
The story focuses on the relationship between Assange and Daniel Domscheit-Berg, who worked with WikiLeaks before their partnership broke down. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Assange, while Daniel Brühl plays Domscheit-Berg. The plot covers the growth of WikiLeaks, the publication of confidential material and disagreements about journalistic responsibility.
Condon was known for directing films in several genres, including Gods and Monsters, Dreamgirls and the live-action fantasy Beauty and the Beast. The Fifth Estate was written by Josh Singer, who later co-wrote Spotlight and First Man.
The film should not be confused with a documentary or with the real WikiLeaks website itself. It is a dramatized feature film and presents events through a scripted narrative. Assange publicly criticized the project before release, while Domscheit-Berg served as a consultant.