In the film, Lloyd Vogel is the journalist who interviews Rogers for the Esquire profile. In reality, journalist Tom Junod was the mastermind behind the article, but Junod said he asked producers to give him a pseudonym in the film.

Was there an Esquire article on Fred Rogers?

Though Hanks' Mister Rogers is the storyteller in Marielle Heller's new film, the movie's inspiration, a 1998 Esquire cover story, positions him instead as a subject. ... As Lloyd does in the movie, Junod became close with Rogers after the children's TV host saw something special in him.

Is the story of Fred Rogers and Lloyd Vogel true?

The new film is inspired by the story of Rogers' relationship with journalist Tom Junod, who was assigned to profile Rogers in 1998 for a special issue of Esquire on American heroes. ... In the movie, Tom Junod's name is changed to Lloyd Vogel. His personal story is changed too.