Channing Tatum Reflects On The ‘Crazy’ True Story Of ‘Roofman’

Hollywood star Channing Tatum transforms into a suave and no-nonsense real-life criminal in the comedy-drama “Roofman.”

Directed and written by Oscar-nominated director Derek Cianfrance, the film tells the story of US Army veteran and father of three, Jeffrey Manchester, who was nicknamed “Roofman” after robbing over 40 McDonald’s restaurants by breaking into the roof.

Described by his friend as “the smartest dumb guy I know”, the film sees Manchester sentenced to 45 years in prison for his crimes and using his wits and observational skills to escape.

Instead of running, Manchester manages to hide in a local toy store for months and falls in love with one of its employees, Leigh, played by Kirsten Dunst.

The film follows his attempts to evade capture and shows him winning over Leigh’s two daughters and charming the congregation of the church he frequents with his affable demeanor before he is finally caught.

“I grew up in Florida and I can tell you this, I’ve met people like Jeff. I’m probably two decisions away from being Jeff myself in some aspects of my life,” Tatum said as he premiered the film at the London Film Festival on Tuesday (October 14).

“Jeff’s story is about someone who just can’t get out of his own way, and I think a lot of us are like that,” Tatum said.

Blue Valentine and The Light Between Oceans director Cianfrance said he was intrigued by Manchester’s humanity and the contradictions in his behaviour.

“The crazy stuff that happens in the movie, I didn’t have to make a lot of it in the movie. I just had to tie a few things together for thematics,” he said.

Speaking to Manchester over a few years in preparation for the play, Cianfrance said he began to doubt his account of events.

“This guy is telling me a tall tale. This couldn’t be true,” he thought. But the stories were supported by the many people Manchester had contacted, including the judge who sentenced him, the people he had put in McDonald’s freezers, the church’s pastor and the dentist whose office was blown up, Cianfrance said.

“I just followed the crazy truth I learned about. I felt like a kind of emotional investigator,” he said.

Manchester didn’t get to see the film, but its release came with changes, Cianfrance said.

“Some really positive things have happened. There are people in Jeff’s life that he hasn’t talked to in a long time who have started seeing the film and he’s starting to reach out to them. They’re answering his calls now. And he called me about a week ago and said, ‘Derek, if I could give you a hug, I would,'” Cianfrance said.

“That was, yes, that was a moment.”

”Roofman” is in US theaters now and is released worldwide later in October.