Channing Tatum To Star In True Crime Movie ‘Roofman’ For Derek Cianfrance; FilmNation & CAA Media Finance Launching Limelight’s Hot Pic For EFM

EXCLUSIVE: In a buzzy EFM package, Channing Tatum is set to star in true crime story Roofman for Oscar nominee Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine).

Pic is based on the remarkable story of Jeffrey Manchester, an eccentric and charming serial robber who broke into more than 60 McDonald’s overnight via their roofs, then emptied the cash register in the morning after herding staff into freezers. The former U.S. Army Reserve officer became known as the ‘Rooftop Robber’ or ‘Roofman’ and was known for his gentle demeanor and for rarely resorting to violence.

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Convicted and imprisoned in 2000, the plucky criminal escaped jail and then evaded capture by holing up for months in a Toys ‘r Us and Circuit City store 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. The movie will focus on Manchester’s months-long odyssey on the lam.

Script comes from Cianfrance and Kirt Gunn. Dylan Sellers and Chris Parker will produce through their Limelight (Palm Springs) production banner alongside Cianfrance’s longtime collaborators Jamie Patricof (Hunting Lane) and Lynette Howell Taylor (51 Entertainment). Limelight developed the project and will fully finance.

FilmNation and CAA Media Finance are launching the package for the EFM where it’s already generating strong interest from distribution sources we’ve spoken to. FilmNation is on international, CAA on domestic.

FilmNation will also be at the EFM with Berlin Film Festival opener Small Things Like These starring Cillian Murphy. Magic Mike and The Lost City star Tatum most recently teamed with FilmNation on Dog, which took $85M global off an estimated $15M budget.

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.

Cianfrance is represented by CAA, Jamie Patricof, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman. Tatum, who next stars in Project Artemis for Apple and Amazon MGM’s Blink Twice, is represented by CAA and Hanson Jacobson.

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