‘Roofman’ By Derek Cianfrance.
Oscar nominee Derek Cianfrance’s (Blue Valentine) first film in 8 years is a true crime story titled “Roofman”. The buzzy title was brought to the European Film Market in February. Channing Tatum is set to star in the film. The script was written by Cianfrance and Kirt Gunn. Dylan Sellers and Chris Parker will produce through their Limelight production banner alongside Tatum and Cianfrance. Miramax acquired the film for distribution for domestic and international.
Alongside Channing Tatum (The Lost City), In September, Kirsten Dunst (Civil War, Spider-Man) joined the cast as Tatum’s love interest in the film. In October, Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) was announced to join the film.
Synopsis: The pic is based on the true story of former U.S Army Reserve officer Jeffrey Manchester, an eccentric and charming serial robber who broke into more than 60 McDonald’s in the night via their roofs, then emptied the cash registers in the morning after herding staff into freezers. Manchester was known for his gentle demeanor and for rarely resorting to violence. Convicted and imprisoned in 2000, the pesky criminal escaped jail and then evaded capture by holing up for months in a Toys ‘r Us in North Carolina. He lived off baby food and would ride bicycles for exercise in the toy store. after reportedly leaving his fingerprints on a Catch Me If You Can DVD in the electronics store, he was recaptured and sent back to jail. Dunst plays an employee at the Toys ‘R Us, who Jeffrey (Tatum) had been secretly watching from inside the store and slowly falls for her. The movie will focus on Manchester’s months-long odyssey on the lam.
The script came from Cianfrance and Kirt Gunn. Limelight developed the project and will fully finance. FilmNation and CAA Media Finance launched the package for the EFM. In October, Miramax landed domestic and international distribution rights. Paramount is set to distribute in select territories including the U.S.
Principal photography began in October in Charlotte, and will run through till December.
Derek Cianfrance (left). Channing Tatum (right).
Cianfrance is also known as the creator of the HBO series I Know This Much Is True. He was nominated for a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for “Sound Of Metal”. “Roofman” is set to be Cianfrance’s first film in over eights years. The writer-director of “Blue Valentine” has only released 3 films in the last 13 years — his last one was 2016’s ill-received “The Light Between The Ocean”. He was set to direct the upcoming “Wolfman” remake, but that didn’t come to fruition.
