Channing Tatum Details Speaking With Notorious Real-Life Figure for 'Roofman' Role
Channing Tatum’s latest role is arguably the most unique of his career. After all, it’s not often that an actor is tasked with portraying a man who spent six months living in a Toys 'R' Us after breaking out of prison.
However, that was the task for Tatum, who plays Jeffrey Manchester in the new film Roofman. While the storyline behind Manchester, who reportedly drilled holes through the roofs of restaurants to enter before they opened, began with his robberies, the film is actually about what happened after that.
After being sentenced to 45 years in prison, Manchester escaped in broad daylight by hiding underneath a truck, which led to him living in the Toys 'R' Us and a closed-down Circuit City that was connected to it.
While Tatum will portray Manchester, the timeline of Roofman focuses on his life after the escape, as he hides out in Toys 'R' Us and Circuit City, eventually immersing himself in the local community.
Tatum revealed to Entertainment Weekly that he spoke with Manchester and praised him for making things "really easy," while also admitting that he hopes the man he's portraying enjoys the movie.
"It’s impossible to tell someone’s real life story in 90 minutes..." Tatum admitted.
"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."
Along with speaking to Manchester, Kirsten Dunst, who plays the love interest of the main character, following his jail escape, Leigh Wainscott, revealed that the woman she portrays in the film visited the movie's set twice. However, Dunst didn't get the chance to meet her.
Roofman is set to be released on October 10, 2025.
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