Channing Tatum Dials into the Dark Side: Inside His Intense Preparations for Biopic ‘Roofman’ with Real-Life Inmate Jeffrey Manchester

Channing Tatum’s “Roofman” Premiere at TIFF: An Inside Look at His Immersive Role

Toronto, ON – Hollywood star Channing Tatum, 45, embarked on an extraordinary journey of character immersion for his latest film, “Roofman,” premiering on September 6 at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). To portray the real-life convict Jeffrey Manchester, Tatum engaged in a series of direct phone calls with Manchester himself, who is currently serving a 40-year sentence in a maximum-security prison.

The biopic, helmed by writer-director Derek Cianfrance, delves into the astonishing true story of Jeffrey Manchester, an individual who gained notoriety for robbing an astounding 45 McDonald’s restaurants. His criminal escapades reached a bizarre peak when he evaded law enforcement by secretly living within the confines of a Toys “R” Us store for six months. Manchester is presently incarcerated at Central Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina, a super-maximum security facility, where he shared his stranger-than-fiction life story with Tatum and Cianfrance.

“It’s a wild thing when you can’t call somebody and they call you from a supermax prison and you have 15 minutes with them,” Tatum recounted at the PEOPLE/EW and Shutterstock studio during TIFF. The calls, unpredictable in their timing, demanded Tatum’s immediate attention, regardless of his ongoing activities. He humorously recalled an instance where he had to pause a conversation with his daughter Everly’s teacher to accept a call from Manchester, stating, “One second, prison’s calling.” These brief, intense exchanges were the actor’s primary conduit to understanding Manchester’s psyche.

Director Derek Cianfrance, 51, dedicated four years to meticulously researching Manchester’s story, engaging in phone calls with the inmate “about four times a week.” Cianfrance’s exhaustive research included corroborating Manchester’s accounts with the police officers who eventually apprehended him, confirming the unbelievable details of his life. “The more I heard his story, the more I just couldn’t believe it was actually real,” Cianfrance remarked.

“Roofman,” which is slated for a theatrical release on October 10, explores Manchester’s clandestine existence inside the Toys “R” Us, a period during which he unexpectedly forms a romantic relationship with a divorced mother, played by Kirsten Dunst, 43. The official synopsis hints at a compelling and suspenseful “game of cat and mouse” as Manchester’s past inevitably begins to unravel around him.

Tatum, sharing a 12-year-old daughter, Everly, with his ex-wife Jenna Dewan, found a profound personal connection to the role, particularly in scenes depicting Manchester watching his own daughter from afar. He confessed that these emotional moments required little acting, as the raw feeling of being unable to connect with his child resonated deeply. “I can’t imagine watching my daughter and not being able to go and have that moment with her. It just crushed me,” Tatum shared, reflecting on his own experiences as a father.

Despite their extensive conversations, Tatum has yet to meet Manchester in person. “I never got to meet [Manchester]. So hopefully when he gets out, or at some point I’m allowed to actually go see him,” he expressed. Dunst playfully interjected, “I wonder why you were cast,” hinting at Tatum’s charismatic persona, which he noted Manchester also possesses. “He’s a wildly charismatic and warm human. He takes care of you on this phone call,” Tatum added.

The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Ben Mendelsohn, LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple, Uzo Aduba, and Peter Dinklage. “Roofman” is set to hit theaters nationwide on October 10, offering audiences a gripping true story brought to life by a dedicated cast and crew. The 2025 Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 4–14.