Channing Tatum stars as Jeffrey Manchester, the infamous "Roofman," in the new crime comedy film Roofman, directed by Derek Cianfrance. The film, which premiered at the BFI London Film Festival on Tuesday night, is based on the true story of Manchester, a former US Army Reserve officer who turned to robbing McDonald's restaurants by breaking in through the roof.
Tatum described Manchester as a "warm and optimistic" person. He reflected on Manchester's life, noting the questionable decisions that led him to a life of crime. "I personally think we're probably all about one or two decisions away from being in a very different place than we are," Tatum said. He also spoke about a phone conversation he had with Manchester, who is currently serving a 40-year sentence in prison in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The film chronicles Manchester's life in 1998 as a divorced US Army veteran living in North Carolina. Struggling to provide for his three young children, Manchester utilizes his observation skills to rob a McDonald's, breaking in through the roof at night. He surprises the morning shift, ordering the employees into the walk-in freezer but treating them kindly.
After escaping from prison in 2004, Manchester hid in a Toys "R" Us store for several months, surviving on sweets and baby food and spying on staff using child monitors. During this time, he sparked a romance with Leigh Wainscott, a local woman played by Kirsten Dunst, and became an active member of a local church under the alias John Zorn.
Tatum had extensive conversations with Manchester to prepare for the role. He wanted it to be a conversation where Manchester felt free to share his story. Tatum found Manchester to be a complex, multidimensional human who is aware of his bad decisions and is paying the price. He hopes that Manchester and prison officials will see the film, perhaps leading to a reduced sentence.
Roofman also stars Kirsten Dunst, Ben Mendelsohn, LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple, Melonie Diaz, Uzo Aduba, Lily Collias, Jimmy O. Yang, and Peter Dinklage. The film is directed by Derek Cianfrance, who reportedly spoke with Manchester almost four times a week for four years to research the film.
Principal photography began on October 24, 2024, in Gastonia, North Carolina, and wrapped on December 12, 2024. The film is loosely based on Manchester's life and primarily chronicles his time in hiding at Toys "R" Us.
