Channing Tatum is going where he has never gone before on-screen: The actor/producer collaborates with legendary indie director Derek Cianfrance for crime drama “Roofman,” based on real-life felon Jeffrey Manchester. The film centers on Tatum’s depiction of Jeff, who was known for living in a Toys ’R’ Us store after escaping from prison. He sustained himself by breaking into more than 60 McDonald’s over the course of his crime career.
The first look at “Roofman” states that the film is “based on a true story *as told by a liar.” The film takes place over the course of six months in 2004, during which Jeff lived under the alias “John Zorn” in a North Carolina community. Kirsten Dunst portrays Leigh Wainscott, the divorced mom who works at Toys ’R’ Us and falls for Tatum’s character. Ben Mendelsohn, LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple, Melonie Diaz, Uzo Aduba, Lily Collias, Jimmy O. Yang, and Peter Dinklage also star.
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Tatum told EW that he felt a “lot of pressure” filming “Roofman” especially since he was portraying a real person. “It’s impossible to tell someone’s real life story in 90 minutes,” Tatum said. “I really hope Jeff likes the movie. He’s made some bad decisions in his life. That is a fact. But he is probably the first one to tell you that. But I just find him such a beautiful and unfortunate soul. It breaks my heart; he’s so smart and alive, even on a phone call. The first time I ever talked to him, I was nervous, and he knew things about me and asked me about my life. He made things really easy.”
As for working with “Blue Valentine” director Cianfrance, Tatum explained how he had a “soul contract” with the filmmaker for this role. “Derek came into my life at a very interesting point where I’d reached a different place in my craft,” Tatum said. “I didn’t really expect to go to the places that we did. Derek and I signed this soul contract. I don’t think I’ve been given the opportunity to do work like this. I’ve never been pushed as hard as Derek pushed me.”
Tatum continued, “We made a deal in the beginning that there was no unsafe place. We would do a take as it was written; we’d do a take that was silent; we would do a take like Jerry Lewis. We went all over the map and there was no wrong. That created a place of real vulnerability. It opened up a space to really sit in the loneliness of this character. … This was a spiritual marathon on some level.”
“Roofman” is written by director Cianfrance and Kirt Gunn. Both Tatum and Cianfrance also executive produce, along with Jonathan Glickman, Thom Zadra, Charles M. Barsamian, Chris Parker, Tyler Zacharia, and Jonathan Montepare. Jamie Patricof, Lynette Howell Taylor, Alex Orlovsky Duncan Montgomery, and Dylan Sellers produce.
“Roofman” is a Paramount Pictures feature, in Association with Miramax, FilmNation Entertainment, and Von Waaden Entertainment, LLC.
In addition to “Roofman,” Tatum also has his “Ghost” remake in the works, plus the Zellner Brothers’ “Alpha Gang.” Cate Blanchett, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Zoë Kravitz, Steven Yeun, and Riley Keough round out the ensemble cast for the film about a group of alien invaders who are disguised in human form as a 1950s leather-clad biker gang. Tatum also already wrapped Beth de Araújo‘s sophomore feature film “Josephine” in 2024 alongside Gemma Chan, Philip Ettinger, and Syra McCarthy.
Paramount Pictures will release “Roofman” on Friday, October 3 in theaters. Check out the film’s first trailer below.
