Channing Tatum Shares the ‘Most Heartbreaking’ Detail About His New Crime Drama With 84% RT

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Channing Tatum shared that speaking with the real person who inspired his character in the movie was the most emotionally difficult part of making the film. The movie, based on a true story, has been well-received by audiences.

Channing Tatum recently spoke with Entertainment Weekly about his research for a new film based on the true story of Jeffrey Manchester, who is currently in prison in Raleigh, North Carolina. Tatum described a particularly sad detail he learned about Manchester, saying it helped him understand the man behind the story.

Tatum described the character as a complicated person, like everyone else. He’s neither a hero nor a villain, just someone who’s made mistakes and is now facing the consequences.

I asked him what his plans were when he got out, and his answer really hit me hard. He said he wasn’t sure if he’d ever be allowed to, because of his criminal record, but he desperately wanted to adopt and have another chance at being a good father. He really understands what he took from his kids – just his presence in their lives – and admitted he hadn’t realized it before. He said he had to learn a tough lesson, and you can’t undo past mistakes. He’s now facing the consequences of his actions, and it’s difficult to accept.

The film is directed by Derek Cianfrance and co-written with Kirt Gunn, a man with a unique past. Gunn is a former U.S. Army officer who turned to crime in the late 1990s. After leaving the military and briefly working at McDonald’s, he became known for robbing several McDonald’s locations. He would sneak into the restaurants at night and remain hidden until after the morning crew had opened, allowing him to escape undetected.

In 2000, Manchester was arrested, but he managed to escape from prison four years later. He famously hid out in a Toys “R” Us store in Charlotte, North Carolina for months before moving to an abandoned Circuit City. He was arrested again in 2005 after robbing the same Toys “R” Us he’d been living in. He remained in Charlotte, largely because he had started a relationship with a local woman named Leigh Wainscott.

What Do Critics and Audiences Think of Roofman?

The film stars Leigh Wainscott, Ben Mendelsohn as Pastor Ron Smith, Uzo Aduba as his wife Eileen, LaKeith Stanfield as Steve, a friend and fellow veteran, and Molly Price as Officer Scheimreif. Also appearing are Jimmy O. Yang, Kennedy Moyer, Tony Revolori, Lily Collias, Emory Cohen, Juno Temple, and Peter Dinklage.

The movie *Roofman* opened in theaters on October 10th to overwhelmingly positive reviews. Critics and audiences especially praised the acting, the film’s rhythm, and the connection between the lead actors. Currently, *Roofman* has an 84% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and 87% of audiences gave it a positive rating on the site.

Roofman is in theaters now.

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2025-10-11 21:36